Zhang Nian

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Nian (张年)
Alias(es)	Qinglian Saint 56 153
Species/Race	Human 141
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Founder of a mountain gate; Sect Master of the Nether Poison Sect; holder of the Ye You token 6 134 184
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, master to numerous disciples, sect master, alchemist, and formation practitioner 4 184 271
Status	Active 306
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Sheng (temporary)	3 4 6	Used a Dou Sheng Experience Card to pressure Jia Nan Academy’s elders and secure Zi Yan; the borrowed strength expired shortly after establishing his mountain gate.
Peak Five-Star Dou Sheng (temporary)	13	His second Experience Card produced a peak Five-Star Dou Sheng state, allowing spatial travel to Starfall Pavilion.
One-Star Dou Zhe	16	Completed the initial conversion of his Dou Qi after beginning the Fen Jue.
One-Star Dou Zong	16	Reached this realm after feeding a seed from the Nanming Li Fire into the Fen Jue, evolving the technique to high-grade Heaven tier.
Three-Star Dou Zun	31	Identified himself through perception as a Three-Star Dou Zun while investigating an imprisoned Dou Zong.
Early Two-Star Dou Sheng	43	Reached this stage after a month of cultivation, aided by returns from gifts given to his disciples.
Six-Star Dou Sheng	120	Broke through inside the Nanji Mountain array space, despite its thin spiritual energy.
Seven-Star Dou Sheng, Early Stage → Grand Perfection	306	A surge of energy rapidly carried him through the documented Seven-Star stages.
Eight-Star Dou Sheng, Early Stage → Grand Perfection	306	The same surge pushed him through the recorded Eight-Star stages.
Nine-Star Dou Sheng, Peak	306	Reached peak Nine-Star Dou Sheng after fusing the first flame and receiving further energy.

History

Zhang Nian first appeared above Jia Nan Academy alongside Medusa, using temporary Dou Sheng strength to demand both Zi Yan as a disciple and the Fallen Heart Flame. He broke the tower’s seal, took the flame, and left a seed flame behind. He then persuaded Zi Yan by promising to help locate her clansmen and relatives. 3 4

After his borrowed power expired, Zhang Nian established his own mountain gate with spatial barriers and entry keys for his disciples. He cultivated Zi Yan and Medusa through gifts, attention, and the returns generated by his system. 6 8 He later obtained the Nanming Li Fire, exchanged five grade-nine medicinal herbs for Yao Chen’s Fen Jue, and used the technique to rebuild his cultivation from One-Star Dou Zhe to One-Star Dou Zong. 13 14 16

His search for resources and Heavenly Flames brought him through the Central Plains, Black-White Town, Nanji Mountain, and Jia Nan Academy’s magma world. He protected the Han sisters during the conflict with the Yin-Yang Dual Flames, broke through to Six-Star Dou Sheng, and later helped Zhu Kun reach Nine-Star Dou Sheng. 102 106 120 143

While exploring the Nether Poison Swamp with Zi Yan and Zhu Kun, Zhang Nian survived poisonous illusions and was taken to an ancient remnant soul. The elder forcibly passed the Nether Poison Sect’s leadership to him, granting him the sentient Sect Master Token known as Little Poison. 176 180 184 Through this inheritance, Zhang Nian learned of the ancient Four Great Sects, the Tokens, the Heavenly Eye, and the lost Source Qi of the Emperor. 181 182 186

Zhang Nian later entered Tou She Ancient God’s cave, learned the Spirit Gathering Array in two days, and refined an Emperor Grade pill under Tou She’s guidance. His later conflict with Little Cold and the formation surrounding the Heavenly Eye drove him to pursue strength beyond the limits of the Dou Qi Continent. 270 271 289 306

Appearance

Zhang Nian presents himself as a young man despite possessing strength that causes veteran cultivators to treat him as an old, hidden expert. He is confirmed to possess human blood and commonly maintains a calm, composed demeanor before stronger factions. 13 141

• Appears considerably younger than Jia Nan Academy’s elder Su Qian. 4
• Is often mistaken for an unusually young hidden expert because of the gap between his appearance and cultivation. 141
• Can manifest golden Dou Qi wings, though they were disrupted by the masked man’s power in the formation space. 102

Personality

Zhang Nian is pragmatic and highly strategic. He plans around known future threats, seeks resources that can strengthen himself or his disciples, and uses his knowledge of major figures such as Zi Yan’s father and Yao Chen to guide his choices. 4 35 51 He is willing to leverage overwhelming strength in negotiations, as shown when he pressured Jia Nan Academy and Starfall Pavilion, but he still compensated Yao Chen with rare grade-nine herbs for the Fen Jue. 3 14

He is also deceptive when necessary. To gain Zi Yan’s trust, he invented a “master of metaphysics” and invoked fate as an explanation for knowing her circumstances. 4 At the same time, he is consistently protective of his disciples: he evacuates Jia Nan Academy before confronting Zhu Kun, safeguards the Han sisters during the Nanji Mountain conflict, and prioritizes Zi Yan’s safety when powerful experts take notice of her bloodline. 122 129 143

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra / Fen Jue

Zhang Nian obtained the evolvable Fen Jue from Yao Chen and used it as the foundation of his cultivation.

• Evolved the Fen Jue to high-grade Heaven tier by refining a Nanming Li Fire seed through it. 16
• Reached an emperor-tier cultivation method during the Nether Poison Swamp expedition. 178
• Later evolved the Flame Mantra to Immortal Grade. 236
• Uses the technique as the basis for assimilating and controlling multiple powerful flames. 263

Nanming Li Fire

The Nanming Li Fire is Zhang Nian’s primary divine flame: a milky-white, holy-looking fire housed in his dantian. 13

• Forms fire dragons capable of incinerating Fire Lizard People within magma. 54
• Can annihilate hostile energy attacks and imprison the masked puppet controlled by the Yin-Yang Dual Flames. 102
• Was incorporated into his mountain gate’s defensive barrier, attacking unauthorized intruders. 15
• Clears poisonous gas in the Nether Poison Swamp. 175
• Cannot automatically detect every hidden poison; a wisp of poisonous gas entered Zhang Nian’s body without the flame noticing. 176

Spatial Arts

Zhang Nian possesses advanced spatial mobility and barrier techniques.

• Tears open spatial rifts and tunnels for long-distance travel. 13 61
• Established a mountain gate barrier and created stone “keys” that allow disciples to pass through it. 6
• Maintains spatial barriers to protect and transport weaker companions, including Zi Yan before she could fly independently. 56
• Uses spatial force to conceal, reinforce, and manage defensive locations. 15 122

Alchemy and Formation Arts

Zhang Nian possesses fire-and-wood attribute Dou Qi, making him a natural alchemist. 11

• Trades and distributes high-grade medicinal herbs and pills, including grade-nine herbs, Dou Ling Pills, and Ice Soul Calming Pills. 14 119 122
• Fully comprehended the Spirit Gathering Array in two days. 271
• Refined the Emperor Grade Embryonic Pill under Tou She Ancient God’s guidance. 270 271
• Completed an Emperor Grade pill after accounting for its expected lightning tribulation. 274

Heavenly Derivation Saint Physique

Zhang Nian possesses the Heavenly Derivation Saint Physique, a return item that transformed his body.

• Supports expanding meridians and the accumulation of immense amounts of Dou Qi. 11
• Gives him confidence in resisting conditions that threaten ordinary cultivators, including the Nether Poison Swamp’s toxic environment. 178

Ten Thousand Times Return System

Zhang Nian’s system rewards him for benefiting disciples and partners.

• Return multipliers rise with a disciple’s favorability; Zi Yan’s favorability of 60 produced a 500-fold multiplier, while 100 is stated to produce a ten-thousand-fold multiplier. 6
• Rewarded him with a Portable Herb Repository after he accepted Zi Yan as a disciple. 4
• Granted temporary Dou Sheng Experience Cards, allowing him to survive and negotiate during his early weakness. 4 13
• Can reward items with extreme recovery properties, including the Ninth-Grade Golden Pill and Bodhi Great Resurrection Pill. 51

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Nanming Li Fire — Divine milky-white flame used for combat, barriers, and poison suppression. 13 15 54
• Ziwei Heavenly Fire — A flame accepted by Zhang Nian and used to advance the Flame Mantra. 156 176
• Nine Heavens Profound Flame — One of the three major flames under Zhang Nian’s control. 156 263
• Fallen Heart Flame — Seized from Jia Nan Academy; Zhang Nian later reported finding another Fallen Heart Flame beneath the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower. 3 60
• Sect Master Token / Little Poison — Sentient divine artifact of the Nether Poison Sect; immune to poisons, capable of controlling poisonous fog and restrictions, and holder of Source Qi of the Emperor. 184 187 191
• Portable Herb Repository — System reward containing 100 random medicinal herbs of every grade from one through nine. 4
• Ye You Token — Token granting authority over the Ye You assassination organization. 134 135
• Ninth-Grade Golden Pill — Resurrection-type pill Zhang Nian chose to consume as a safeguard against fatal damage. 51

Relationships

• Zi Yan — His second disciple. Zhang Nian recruited her by promising to find her relatives, later reunited her with Zhu Kun, and repeatedly protects her despite her mischief. 4 56 143 153
• Medusa — Early disciple and companion who accompanied him to Jia Nan Academy; she was later placed in charge as sect master during his absence. 3 14
• Cailin — His eldest disciple and the acting authority over the mountain gate while he is away; Zhang Nian assists her concerns about the Snake-People Tribe elders. 156 170 279
• Zhu Kun — Zi Yan’s father and Zhang Nian’s powerful ally. Zhang Nian helped him break through to Nine-Star Dou Sheng and later worked with him in Tou She Ancient God’s cave. 143 270
• Yao Ye — His fifth disciple, accepted despite mediocre aptitude because of her diligence. Zhang Nian gave her a flight Dou Technique and Rank 5 magical-beast wings. 38
• Han Fei and Han Ke’er — Disciples taken in during the Nanji Mountain crisis; Zhang Nian protects them with pills and shelter. 106 119 122
• Ya Fei — Disciple accepted after Zhang Nian’s return to the mountain gate; he promised to find a suitable water-attribute cultivation method for her. 134
• Yao Chen — Master of Starfall Pavilion who traded the Fen Jue to Zhang Nian in exchange for five grade-nine medicinal herbs. 13 14
• Tou She Ancient God — Ancient guide who taught Zhang Nian the Spirit Gathering Array and supervised his Emperor Grade pill refinement. 270 271
• Little Poison — Zhang Nian’s sentient Sect Master Token, adviser, and mediator with the other ancient Tokens. 184 227
• Little Ice and Little Fire — Ancient Token beings who assist Zhang Nian’s investigation into the Flame Mantra, the Four Great Sects, and the Heavenly Eye. 227 236
• Ye You — Assassination organization under Zhang Nian’s authority; he ordered it to investigate Heavenly Flames across the continent. 134 135

Notable Quotes

“I seek one person and one object.”
— Zhang Nian, upon arriving at Jia Nan Academy 3

“I have indeed practiced the Flame Mantra, and evolved it to Immortal Grade.”
— Zhang Nian 236