Zhong Kui

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhong Kui (锺馗)
Species/Race	Human; transmigrated soul from another world 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun Moon Empire; Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy / Virtue Hall; allied with the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, Di Tian, and the Star Dou soul-beast faction 8 57 64 83
Occupation/Role	Soul Master; alchemist; instructor of alchemy; system user 1 33 36
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1
Age	14 1
Martial Soul	Demon Eye 1
Soul Rings	Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Red 1
Dou Qi Attribute	Fire, with a trace of wood energy 1
Soul Power	Level 62 Soul Emperor at age 14 1 8
Dou Qi Cultivation	Mid-to-High Tier Dou Shi 1
Alchemy Rank	Tier 3 Alchemist 75
Cultivation Method	Burning Mantra; Green Wood Sword Art 1
Secret Techniques	Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations; True Flame Manipulation Art 1
Primary Weapon	Bronze Sword 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 3 Innate Soul Power	1	Began with low innate soul power and an ordinary eye martial soul.
System awakened; martial soul became Demon Eye	1	The Battle Through the Heavens system awakened after he reached level 10 and needed a spirit ring.
Level 62 Soul Emperor; Mid-to-High Tier Dou Shi; Tier 2 Alchemist	1	Profile recorded after he intercepted Electrolux; possessed fire-and-wood-attributed Dou Qi.
Tier 3 Alchemist	75	Advanced after seclusion, gaining the ability to refine Tier 3 pills.
Began refining the Fallen Heart Flame's Core Flame	76	Selected the Heavenly Flame Core Flame for its ability to accelerate cultivation, rather than choosing more expensive or unsuitable flames.

Background / History

Before transmigrating, Zhong Kui was an ordinary online fanfiction writer. He was struck by a car after saving a child from a fan angered by his criticism of Douluo Dalu in an online article. 1

Zhong Kui was born into a family of ordinary Soul Masters in the Douluo Three Kingdoms. His father was only a Soul Ancestor, and the family had to exhaust favors and connections merely to arrange Zhong Kui's martial-soul awakening. His initial martial soul was an ordinary eye, and his innate soul power was only level 3. 1

After reaching level 10, Zhong Kui awakened a system originating from the Battle Through the Heavens world. It enabled his rise as a Soul Master and alchemist, and transformed his martial soul into the Demon Eye. Through pill refinement, he earned enough to improve his parents' lives, while asking them to remain inconspicuous so they would not become leverage against him. 1

At age 14, Zhong Kui intercepted the remnant soul Electrolux before it could enter Huo Yuhao's spiritual body. He brought Electrolux into his own spiritual world, receiving 100,000 system points and beginning a cooperative relationship with him. 1

Disillusioned with the Three Kingdoms' treatment of commoners and their lack of free martial-soul awakenings, Zhong Kui traveled to the Sun Moon Empire. He entered the Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy, where his level 62 Soul Power and extraordinary physical ability drew Jing Hongchen's attention. 7 8 11 12

He subsequently used alchemy to strengthen Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming to level 95, established himself as an alchemy instructor, and cultivated allies among both the Sun Moon Empire and soul beasts. 19 24 33 36 57

Following his return from the Far North, Zhong Kui entered seclusion and became a Tier 3 Alchemist. His standing within the Sun Moon Empire rose further, with many factions sending medicinal herbs and gifts in anticipation of future pill refinement. 75 76

Appearance

Zhong Kui is physically mature-looking for his age; Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen initially mistake the 14-year-old for someone around 16. 16

• Has a mature, seasoned appearance despite being 14. 16
• Possesses a darker skin tone noted as resembling that of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family. 75
• His extreme cultivation is suggested as the reason he appears older than his actual age. 16
• Is described by Meng Hongchen as handsome and serious-looking. 89

Personality

Zhong Kui is pragmatic, strategic, and strongly motivated by the desire to improve his and his parents' circumstances. He has little attachment to the Douluo Three Kingdoms, judging the Sun Moon Empire more favorably because of its education, soul-tool development, and free martial-soul awakenings. 11 20

Although others call him a genius, Zhong Kui privately views himself as a fraud benefiting from a system rather than innate talent. This self-awareness does not prevent him from using every advantage available, including accepting tournament participation in exchange for an Earth-tier Dou Technique. 9 16 26

As an instructor, he is patient and gentle with students, treating failure as part of learning. He believes alchemists exist to help others grow stronger rather than merely to seek personal combat power. 33

His long-term objective is to overturn Tang San's control over the Douluo Continent and God Realm. He seeks a system in which commoners have greater opportunity and soul beasts can become gods rather than remain suppressed by the existing order. 1 50 59

Zhong Kui is cautious about exposing the truth of his transmigration and system, knowing that revealing such claims would make others regard him as mentally unstable. He instead allows others to attribute his abilities to ancient alchemical inheritances and exceptional luck. 35 36

He is willing to misdirect enemies when direct confrontation is disadvantageous. Upon learning that Tai Tan and Niu Tian had arrived to investigate Huo Yuhao's altered fate, he chose to consider shifting suspicion onto another tournament contestant rather than exposing himself. 109

Abilities & Skills

Soul Master Physique

Zhong Kui's physical ability far exceeds what is expected of a Soul Emperor.

• Destroyed a machine designed to endure Soul Saint-level attacks with a single punch. 11
• Strength, speed, reactions, and defense are assessed near the level of a Title Douluo. 12
• Can contend with Title Douluo-level opponents for a time through his system-enhanced arsenal. 16 18
• Is rumored among Shrek's tournament intelligence sources to possess enough combat power to face a Soul Saint directly. 125

Demon Eye

Zhong Kui's original ordinary eye martial soul transformed into the Demon Eye after his system awakened. 1

• Possesses six soul rings: two purple, two black, and two red. 1
• His martial soul's eye-based nature has caused outside observers to speculate that it allows him to control the flames he displays in battle. 125

Dou Qi Cultivation

Zhong Kui practices an alternate cultivation system based on Dou Qi rather than sole reliance on soul rings.

• Uses fire-attributed Dou Qi with a trace of wood energy. 1
• Practices the Burning Mantra and Green Wood Sword Art, both Xuan-tier low-grade techniques. 1
• Intends to spread Dou Qi as an alternative that can reduce dependence on hunting soul beasts. 18
• Believes Dou Qi cultivation and alchemy can help reform the cultivation system while making cooperation with soul beasts more achievable. 18

Alchemy

Zhong Kui is an alchemist whose pills have significant personal, military, and political value.

• Reached Tier 2 Alchemist status by age 14. 1
• Advanced to Tier 3 Alchemist after seclusion. 75
• Refined Soul Raising Pills that helped Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming reach level 95. 19 24
• Teaches alchemy within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy. 33 36
• Uses alchemy in combat, including an Alchemy Cauldron-and-Beast-Fire barrier. 35
• His instruction helped establish the Sun Moon Empire's developing alchemy industry, with his students producing medicines for nobles and Soul Masters. 65
• Seeks to become strong enough in alchemy to eventually revive Electrolux through a resurrection method involving a powerful corpse, a refined pill, and Heavenly Flames. 75

Flame Control

Zhong Kui possesses multiple flames supplied or supported by the system and uses them in both alchemy and battle. 1

• Possesses the Child Flame of Life, a Heavenly Flame child flame. 1
• Has access to Ganlan Water Flame, Purple Flame, and Peach Blossom Flame as Beast Flames. 1
• Can condense an Artificial Life Flame through the Condensed Artificial Flame secret method. 1
• Demonstrated Tier 5 Peach Blossom Flame and Tier 6 Purple Flame during his early pill refinement before Jing Hongchen. 18
• Chose the Fallen Heart Flame's Core Flame for its cultivation-enhancing properties and began refining it. 76

Eight Extremities Collapse

A Dou Technique Zhong Kui presents as a self-created Soul Skill.

• Nearly destroyed an eighth-level Soul Tool during his demonstration. 12
• Demonstrated to Jing Hongchen as evidence of his combat potential. 12
• Used it to kill an Evil Soul Master during his journey to the Sun Moon Empire. 4

Angry Dragon Art

A high-tier Xuan-grade battle skill purchased with system points after Zhong Kui killed Evil Soul Masters. 5

• Specialized for direct energy clashes and destructive, lethal attacks. 5
• Described by Zhong Kui as more destructive than the Roaming Dragon Art. 5
• Cost 500 system points. 5

Roaming Dragon Art

A profound-grade, high-tier Dou Technique used with Zhong Kui's Bronze Sword. 4

• Creates a giant roaming dragon that can engulf a battlefield. 4
• Was used to kill a group of Evil Soul Masters. 4

Eight Desolations Flood Dragon Swimming Sword

An Earth-tier intermediate Dou Technique awarded for agreeing to enter the Soul Fighting Tournament. 26

• Heaven and Earth Roam — combines Beast Fire or Heavenly Fire for simultaneous offense and defense. 26
• Flood Dragon Body — enables sudden dragon-like strikes, strengthened by Beast Fire or Heavenly Fire. 26
• Eight Desolations Sword — merges the prior stages and can approach quasi-Heaven-tier power. 26

Other Dou Techniques

Zhong Kui's system profile records an extensive collection of techniques from the Battle Through the Heavens world. 1

• Xuan-tier Dou Techniques: Sucking Palm, Fire Blowing Palm, Explosive Steps, Eagle Wings, Wind Extreme: Meteor Kill, Wind Fluff Afterimage, Afterimage, Lion-Tiger Gold Shattering Roar, and Eight Extremities Collapse. 1
• Sword-type Xuan-tier Dou Technique: Wind Brake Annihilation. 1
• Di-tier Low-Grade Dou Technique: Fire Wave Slash. 1
• Flame Emperor Dou Technique: Buddha Fury Fire Lotus. 1
• Secret Techniques: Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations and True Flame Manipulation Art. 1

System

Zhong Kui possesses a system from the Battle Through the Heavens world.

• Awards points for actions, including 100,000 points for taking Electrolux and further points for killing Evil Soul Masters. 1 5
• Provides cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, medicine, flames, and other resources. 1 26 38
• Supplied the Seven Illusion Green Spirit Saliva and Transformation Herbs used to secure key alliances. 38 42 47
• Offered 80,000 points for preventing Huo Yuhao from obtaining the Ice Empress and later offered 100,000 points for winning the Ice Empress's allegiance. 40 48
• Its Heavenly Flame Core Flame options include the Fallen Heart Flame, Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame, Nihility Devouring Flame, and Life Spirit Flame, though Zhong Kui judged several options prohibitively expensive or unsuitable. 76

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bronze Sword — Zhong Kui's recorded weapon, which possesses an unspecified special effect and is intended for future upgrading. 1 79
• Bone Flame Ring — replica storage ring modeled after Yao Lao's ring; lacks Yao Lao's techniques and cultivation methods. 1 5
• Tier 2 Alchemy Cauldron — used for pill refinement and combat barriers. 1 35
• Seven Illusion Green Spirit Saliva — soul-restoring treasure offered to Electrolux in exchange for magical instruction. 38
• Transformation Herbs — treasures that allow soul beasts to transform into human form and evade heavenly tribulations; used to win the Ice and Snow Empresses' cooperation. 42 47
• Fallen Heart Flame Core Flame — a Heavenly Flame Core Flame Zhong Kui selected and began refining to enhance his cultivation speed. 76
• Detection Soul Tool — used as a cover while Electrolux investigated the party secretly observing them in the Star Luo Empire. 96
• High-Grade Communication Soul Tool — used to discuss the Star Dou soul-beast exchange plan with Di Tian. 86

Relationships

• Electrolux — remnant soul Zhong Kui intercepted and housed in his spiritual world; they become cooperative partners, with Zhong Kui offering soul restoration and seeking to learn magic from him. Electrolux later temporarily controls Zhong Kui's body to investigate suspected surveillance. 1 36 38 96
• Jing Hongchen — Virtue Hall Master, patron, and ally who recognizes Zhong Kui's talent, supports his education, and helps protect his parents. 11 12 28 36
• Kong Deming — Sun Moon Empire powerhouse who receives Zhong Kui's pill assistance and promises imperial-retainer status should Zhong Kui become a Title Douluo. 24 25
• Zhong Ming — Zhong Kui's father, a Level 45 Soul Ancestor with the Fire Iron Spear martial soul. He and Zhong Kui's mother live under Jing Hongchen's protection because Zhong Kui fears they may be targeted. 1 86
• Xiao Hongchen — Jing Hongchen's grandson; introduced to Zhong Kui as a fellow academy genius and tournament teammate. 16 89
• Meng Hongchen — Jing Hongchen's granddaughter; meets Zhong Kui alongside Xiao Hongchen and later provides him with information concerning Tai Tan and Niu Tian's arrival. 16 109
• Ma Rulong — captain of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Fighting Tournament team and Zhong Kui's teammate. 90
• Ice Empress — soul-beast ally won over through Zhong Kui's knowledge and Transformation Herb; joins his anti-Tang San coalition and studies low-level Soul Tools to improve conditions for Far North soul beasts. 47 50 57 77
• Snow Empress — ally for whom Zhong Kui provides a second Transformation Herb; later studies soul-tool technology under his arrangement and gradually develops trust in humans through her experiences with Zhong Kui. 47 64 77
• Di Tian — Beast God persuaded to investigate Zhong Kui's claims and cooperate against Tang San. They later discuss sending the King of Ten Thousand Demons to study Soul Tool technology and Zhong Kui's request for soul bones to upgrade his weapon. 56 57 81 86
• Gu Yuena — leader of the Star Dou soul-beast faction with whom Zhong Kui has cooperated in efforts to deprive Huo Yuhao of Tang San's lower-realm contingencies. 60 83
• Zi Ji — Title Douluo-level soul beast who serves as an intermediary in negotiations over sending a Star Dou soul beast to learn Soul Tool technology. 85 86
• Ju Zi — approaches Zhong Kui on Xu Tianran's behalf seeking treatment for Xu Tianran's disability; Zhong Kui uses the encounter to advance his own political aims. 65
• Xu Tianran — Sun Moon Empire regent whose reproductive disability cannot presently be cured by Zhong Kui; Zhong Kui directs Ju Zi toward the possibility of Immortal Herbs held by the Clear Sky Sect. 65 66
• Linglong / Xu Tianling — fellow transmigrator who identifies Zhong Kui as likely sharing her otherworldly origins. After making contact, she joins him and Electrolux in planning to oppose Tang San and Huo Yuhao. 73 74 82 83
• Huo Yuhao — Zhong Kui's principal lower-realm rival and the intended beneficiary of Tang San's arrangements. Zhong Kui has systematically deprived him of opportunities, including the Ice Empress and his intended Ice Jade Empress Scorpion martial soul. 41 52 83
• Tang San — Zhong Kui's primary adversary, whom he seeks to overthrow due to Tang San's control over the God Realm, manipulation of Huo Yuhao's fate, and suppression of soul beasts. 1 50 110
• Tai Tan and Niu Tian — Clear Sky Sect masters and suspected divine officials dispatched to investigate who has been altering Huo Yuhao's opportunities. 96 109

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival in Douluo and Electrolux's Interception

Zhong Kui arrives as a transmigrated soul, awakens the system's advantages, and prevents Electrolux from becoming attached to Huo Yuhao. This begins his effort to alter the original course of events and oppose Tang San's order. 1

Journey to the Sun Moon Empire

After killing Evil Soul Masters for system points and acquiring the Angry Dragon Art, Zhong Kui heads to the Sun Moon Empire. He chooses it over Shrek because he views its social system, soul-tool technology, and educational opportunities as more progressive. 5 7 8

Virtue Hall Recruitment and Alchemy Expansion

Zhong Kui's level 62 Soul Power, Title Douluo-level physical attributes, Dou Techniques, and alchemy convince Jing Hongchen to recruit him as an elite student. He refines pills for Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming, then begins training alchemy students for the empire. 12 19 24 33 36

His teaching and pill-refining work elevate the position of alchemists in the Sun Moon Empire and establish a growing industry capable of producing medicines for Soul Masters and nobles. 65

Soul Fighting Tournament Preparation

Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen seek Zhong Kui's participation in the Soul Fighting Tournament, warning him that Shrek and the Three Kingdoms may target exceptional Sun Moon talent. Zhong Kui accepts after receiving the Eight Desolations Flood Dragon Swimming Sword from his system. 16 25 26

As the tournament approaches, Zhong Kui encourages preparations against Xuan Zi, including the deployment of Class Nine Soul Tools, while remaining concerned that Shrek may target Sun Moon competitors. 85 89

Soul Beast Alliance

Zhong Kui leaves the empire under the pretext of gathering herbs, intending to deprive Huo Yuhao of the Ice Empress. He uses Transformation Herbs and knowledge of the God Realm's suppression to gain the Ice and Snow Empresses' trust, then brings Di Tian into a tentative alliance against Tang San. 41 47 50 56 57

The alliance captures Huo Yuhao after he enters the Far North with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and prevents him from gaining the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion as his second martial soul. He is instead left with the ten-year plant-type soul beast Solitary Bamboo. 51 52

Zhong Kui further wins the Star Dou faction's trust by revealing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's location. With Gu Yuena's assistance, Di Tian relocates the well to the Star Dou Great Forest to keep it from Tang San's control. 57 60

Return to the Sun Moon Empire

Zhong Kui returns with the Ice and Snow Empresses, arranging for them to learn soul-tool technology at the Royal Soul Guidance Academy. He views this as a means to strengthen soul beasts and deepen their alliance with the Sun Moon Empire. 64

After becoming a Tier 3 Alchemist, Zhong Kui warns the two emperors that their current strength remains inadequate against Tang San, explaining the overwhelming gap between ordinary gods, Rank-One Gods, and a God King. 75 77

Linglong's Contact and Alliance

Linglong, a second transmigrator using the name Xu Tianling, arrives at the academy hoping to determine whether Zhong Kui shares her origins. She approaches him privately using a phrase from their former world, and the two eventually discuss their mutual opposition to Tang San and Huo Yuhao with Electrolux. 74 82 83

Bronze Sword Upgrade Plans

Following his Tier 3 advancement, Zhong Kui begins considering how to upgrade his Bronze Sword into a weapon capable of greater feats. Electrolux proposes imbuing it with light and necromancy magic to create a Holy Spirit Sword, then suggests incorporating soul bones to improve it further. 79 81

Zhong Kui intends to request suitable soul bones from Di Tian after the Soul Fighting Tournament, connecting the planned enhancement to his Star Dou alliance. 81 85

Soul Fighting Tournament Departure

Zhong Kui joins the Sun Moon Empire's tournament team under Ma Rulong and travels to the Star Luo Empire. While there, he and his teammates criticize the Three Kingdoms' underdevelopment of Soul Tools and treatment of commoners. 90 92

During the tournament period, Zhong Kui and Electrolux become concerned that Tang San or his agents are monitoring them because Huo Yuhao's intended opportunities have been disrupted. Electrolux temporarily takes control of Zhong Kui's body and uses necromancy magic to investigate without harming civilians. 96

When Tai Tan and Niu Tian arrive in the Star Luo Empire, Zhong Kui concludes they may have been sent to identify the person interfering with Huo Yuhao's fate and plans to deflect their attention. 109

Trivia

• Zhong Kui's original martial soul was an ordinary eye before it transformed into the Demon Eye. 1
• He considers himself a “cheater” rather than a true genius because of the system's support. 9 16
• His stated goal is not necessarily open war with every god; he believes a negotiated settlement would be possible if the God Realm ceased suppressing soul beasts. 50
• He does not seek the Sun Moon Empire's throne and recognizes that doing so would bring him into conflict with its established power holders. 65
• Before transmigrating, he wrote fanfiction and had publicly argued that Douluo Dalu was weaker than Battle Through the Heavens. 1
• He once accidentally described a complexion as “coffee-colored,” then realized coffee was unknown on the Douluo Continent. 77