Hong

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hong (洪)
Alias(es)	Brother Hong; Big Brother
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Extreme Martial Arts Hall (Hall Master); Golden Crow Tower; Virtual Universe Company, Heaven Secret Region 35 103 353
Occupation/Role	Earth's strongest martial artist; leader and protector of Earth's experts; spear wielder 35 99
Status	Active 414
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 35; appears in person in Chapter 43 35 43

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Planetary Level, Sixth Stage	68	Possessed a Domain, placing him in an effectively invincible position among Earth's planetary-level martial artists.
Planetary Level, Seventh Stage	78	His Domain had advanced further; he could overwhelm Chen Daolin through movement and spear technique even while matching Chen's physical condition.
Planetary Level, Eighth Stage	98	Led the Earth contingent through Trial Star with exceptional spear technique, movement, and combat awareness.
Stellar Level, Fifth Stage	142	Sparred and cultivated with Chen Daolin and Thunder God on Earth after the Ganwu Auction.
Skybridge, Second Level	175	Passed the second level during his first period of cultivation in Chaos City.
Skybridge, Third Level	236	Had cleared the third level but remained without a teacher, motivating his independent study of the Heart Trace Chaos Tablet.
Skybridge, Sixth and Seventh Levels	324	Cleared three levels in succession after twenty years of cultivation, rising from the third level to the seventh.
Universe Level, First Stage	325	Cleared the seventh Skybridge level despite being only a first-stage universe-level warrior; his willpower was decisive.
Illusion Sea, Twentieth Level	347	Became the first person in Virtual Universe Company history to pass the twentieth level; failed only at the twenty-first and final level.
Universe Level, Ninth Stage	353	Reached the ninth stage after nearly three months in a nutrient pod.

Background / History

Earth's strongest martial artist

Hong was universally acknowledged as the strongest martial artist on Earth. Even martial artists who had surpassed the God of War level were considered insignificant before him, while Thunder God was the only person regarded as relatively close to his strength. His reputation made him synonymous with invincibility among Earth's martial artists. 35

As Hall Master of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Hong maintained exacting standards for disciples and showed interest in Chen Daolin without immediately accepting him. He later personally received Chen and Ji Xuan after the Mist Island expedition, rewarding Chen for reporting the island and granting him a share of its Vegetation Spirits. 43 55

Mist Island and Earth's defense

Hong's arrival at Mist Island demonstrated the practical power of his Domain. He enveloped the area in boundless darkness, slowing and suppressing the lethal vegetation vines that had threatened other beings beyond the God of War level. 54

He later obtained the Cloud-Touching Vine from the island and investigated the emergence of a powerful underground monster there. Although he confronted it, he could not kill it underground and returned to prepare for further action. 55 72

When the Golden-Horned Beast threatened humanity, Hong and Thunder God prepared to fight it despite expecting death. Hong regarded Chen Daolin as a vital remaining “seed” for Earth and initially tried to keep him out of the battle. 85 Hong was rendered unconscious during the conflict and awakened roughly a year later, after which Chen explained the Golden-Horned Beast's changed circumstances to him and Thunder God. 89 92

Entering the universe

When the Golden Crow Tower abducted Earth's strongest experts, Hong was among the fifty-four selected captives. On Trial Star, he assumed leadership of the Earth contingent, prioritizing their survival, concealing the group's true strength, and directing their strategy. 96 99

Hong, Thunder God, Chen Daolin, and Jia Yi revealed their Domains against the Black Wing Legion, earning the attention of Domain Lord Shaman. Hong and Thunder God subsequently became Shaman's disciples within Golden Crow Tower. 100 103

After later training under the mysterious Night Demon King on Night Star, Hong departed for the Virtual Universe Company alongside Ji Xuan, Golden Horn, and Thunder God. 148

Virtual Universe Company

Hong entered the Virtual Universe Company's Heaven Secret Region. Though initially overshadowed by peers with greater resources and more prominent teachers, he continued studying the Heart Trace Chaos Tablet independently after Broken Sword King rejected his request for tutelage. 236 353

His dramatic rise in Chaos City culminated in his seventh-level Skybridge clear and unprecedented twentieth-level Illusion Sea clear. Chaos City Lord personally offered to take Hong as a registered disciple, requiring secrecy regarding the arrangement. 324 347

By the time Ji Xuan and Golden Horn entered the Domain Lord level, Hong remained at the Universe level by choice. He intended to complete a task assigned by his teacher first, while developing three transformed incarnations around his own “three bodies becoming one” path. 414

Appearance

Hong is a black-haired, stern young man who typically wears black robes, a black jacket and trousers, or a black combat suit. His bearing is cold, steady, and domineering. 54 236 353

• Short black hair and a stern expression. 353
• A straight-backed posture compared to a spear. 236
• Streamlined, muscular physique after his nutrient-pod enhancement. 353
• Often carries or fights with a spear. 78 98

Personality

Hong is reserved, disciplined, and difficult to rattle. He does not pry into the secrets of allies, as shown when he chose not to investigate Chen Daolin's hidden advantages after Chen defeated East and acquired Muya Crystals. 75

As a leader, he is direct and unsentimental under pressure. On Trial Star, he stopped the Earth survivors from despairing after casualties, emphasizing that they still had to endure for a month. 99 He also places Earth’s security above personal concerns, repeatedly discussing cultivation in terms of protecting their homeworld. 71 117

His greatest distinguishing trait is his mental state. Although he recognizes gaps in resources and law comprehension compared with other geniuses, he persists through long-term cultivation rather than abandoning his path. 236 325

Abilities & Skills

Domain

Hong possessed a Domain while still on Earth, an achievement described as extraordinary for a native planetary-level martial artist without formal guidance. 54 78

• Manifested a darkness-filled Domain that slowed and suppressed Mist Island's vegetation vines. 54
• His Domain made him effectively unbeatable against most planetary-level opponents on Earth. 68
• Revealed his Domain alongside Chen Daolin, Thunder God, and Jia Yi against the Black Wing Legion on Trial Star. 100

Spear Technique

Hong is a specialist spearman whose fighting style combines precise movement, combat experience, and a powerful grasp of martial technique. His history as an assassin shaped the ruthless efficiency of his combat style. 78

• Used his spear technique and movement to decisively outclass Chen Daolin even without relying on superior physical strength or his Domain. 78
• Carved through Trial Star combatants with planetary-level eighth-stage strength, spear skill, and combat awareness. 98
• Developed the Phantom Annihilation Spear while studying the Heart Trace Chaos Tablet. 254

Heart Trace Chaos Tablet

Hong chose the Heart Trace Chaos Tablet as his principal Chaos City cultivation path. Its rooftop inscriptions and leaf-pattern imagery inspired hundreds of secret-technique combinations and informed his spear arts. 236

• Studied all 107 insight inscriptions on Residence 0's rooftop. 236
• Drew particular inspiration from 360 leaf-like patterns, identifying more than 200 secret-technique combinations. 236
• Advanced from the third to the seventh Skybridge level over twenty years through sustained study and refinement. 236 324

Willpower and Illusion Resistance

Hong's willpower and state of mind are his foremost strengths, exceeding his law comprehension relative to the most gifted newcomers. 325

• Repeatedly selected illusionists—the most difficult Skybridge opponent type—to test himself. 325
• Cleared the seventh Skybridge level largely through mental resilience despite comparatively lower law comprehension. 325
• Passed the twentieth level of Illusion Sea at Universe Level 1, a feat normally associated with Universe Venerables and previously unprecedented within the Virtual Universe Company. 347

Three Incarnations

Hong possesses three incarnations that completed their transformations with his teacher's assistance. He is attempting to unite them through an approach inspired by the Taoist concept of the Three Pure Ones. 414

• Has deferred his Domain Lord breakthrough until completing his teacher's assigned task. 414
• The full capabilities of the three incarnations have not been disclosed. 414

Equipment

• Spear — Hong's primary weapon in battle. 78 98
• Cloud-Touching Vine battle suit — Protected him during Trial Star; later upgraded after he reached Universe Level 9. 98 353

Relationships

• Chen Daolin — Sworn younger brother and fellow defender of Earth; Hong offers cultivation guidance, trusts Chen's judgment, and respects his secrets. 75 78 92
• Thunder God — Closest martial peer and sworn brother; together they were Earth's two foremost protectors and later became fellow disciples of Domain Lord Shaman. 35 92 103
• Ji Xuan — Fellow Earth genius and ally in Golden Crow Tower and the Virtual Universe Company. 102 148
• Domain Lord Shaman — Hong's teacher after the Trial Star selection; Hong later chose to gift him the Dragonfire Blade in gratitude. 103 138
• Night Demon King — Mysterious teacher who trained Hong on Night Star before his departure for the Virtual Universe Company. 148
• Chaos City Lord — Secret registered master who accepted Hong after his unprecedented Illusion Sea performance. 347
• Pela — Hong's World Master chief guard in the Heaven Secret Region; she deeply admires his Skybridge achievement. 353

Notable Quotes

“As long as I improve a little every day and persistently move toward my goal, one day, I too will reach the pinnacle...” 236

“We still have to survive on this planet for a month. There's no time to wallow in despair. If you don't want to die, pull yourselves together.” 99