Zhou Qing

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhou Qing (周青)
Alias(es)	Heavenly Dao Sect Master; Refining Sect leader
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Refining Sect; Heavenly Dao Sect
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; sect leader; artifact refiner; formation master
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Induction	1	Reached Qi Induction after five years using the Refining Sect's second-rate cultivation technique; gained the ability to wield a flying sword.
Near Mid-Phase Qi Induction	2	His True Essence and understanding of formations advance after acquiring the Soaring Sword Qi Art.
Major cultivation breakthrough	4	A breakthrough destroys his cultivation cave and leaves him radiating fierce sword qi; the precise realm is not stated.
Second Primordial Spirit — Nascent Soul Initial Stage	16	His Six-Winged Golden Silkworm Second Primordial Spirit is identified as being at the Nascent Soul Initial Stage.
Second Primordial Spirit — Transformation Stage	33	The Golden Silkworm and Nine Li Sacred Blood raise his Second Primordial Spirit to the Transformation Stage.
Union of Heaven and Man	46	Briefly enters this state while evading Xuan Yuan Dharma King's divine-sense search, becoming indistinguishable from heaven and earth.

Background / History

While attending university, Zhou Qing gave water to an injured beggar who called himself Daoist Ling Yun. Ling Yun accepted him as the successor of the obscure Refining Sect, taught him for one month, then left behind the Refining Compendium before dying from injuries inflicted in a dispute with Shu Mountain disciples. Zhou Qing consequently became the sect's sole leader. 1

The Refining Compendium gave him advanced knowledge of artifact refinement, talismans, formations, alchemy, and sword forging, but no complete cultivation method. He compensated through persistent cultivation and practical experimentation. 1 10

After witnessing the wounded Shu Mountain disciple Zhao Liang, Zhou Qing ambushed and killed him, taking the Azure Lock Sword, Violet Firmament Sword, and Soaring Sword Qi Art. The sword art rapidly improved his True Essence and physical body, convincing him that superior techniques and resources were essential to advancement. 1

He later accepted the Blood Clan descendant Liao Xiaojin as his first disciple after helping him evolve with the Taiji Diagram Array. Zhou Qing presented the Heavenly Dao Sect as an ancient lineage to secure Liao's loyalty, then began building an independent power base with his disciple. 3 11

Appearance

Zhou Qing appears young, and states that his actual age matches his appearance. He can suppress his aura until he seems indistinguishable from an ordinary person. 2 4

• Has a plain outward appearance when not displaying cultivation. 14
• His eyes can shine with sharp light and his body can radiate tangible sword qi after breakthroughs. 4
• When merging with his Golden Silkworm Primordial Spirit, he manifests thin, golden wings more than a zhang long. 47

Personality

Zhou Qing is cautious, calculating, and intensely pragmatic. He conceals his aura, avoids fights whose outcome he cannot judge, and uses deception, formations, and environmental advantages rather than relying solely on direct combat. 1 33 42

He values strength above conventional morality and is willing to loot, kill witnesses, or force harsh choices on his disciples when he believes survival or future security demands it. 1 32 34 37 He nevertheless invests heavily in his followers, refining weapons for them, improving their cultivation, and intervening against threats to Zhou Chen and Zhou Can. 12 15 25 29

Though he often adopts the bearing of an unfathomable master, Zhou Qing is self-aware about his improvisation and frequently fabricates sect history or technical explanations to maintain authority. 3 36 42

Abilities & Skills

Formation and Talisman Arts

Zhou Qing specializes in formations and talismans inherited from the Refining Sect. He uses them to gather spiritual energy, conceal traces, trap opponents, break enemy arrays, and call upon external powers. 1 3 31

• Taiji Diagram Array — Draws Taihua Power from moonlight to enhance Liao Xiaojin's evolution. 3
• Four Aspects Absolute Killing Formation — Formed with Four Symbols Divine Talismans; can gather Yi Wood spiritual energy and manifest an Eastern Azure Dragon. 7
• Big Dipper Demon Sealing Formation — Seals the Nether Blood-Devouring Divine Saber. 10
• King Wen's Acquired Eight Trigrams Formation — Refines an Inner Core and spiritual energy to improve Zhou Chen's cultivation. 15 16
• Twelve Divine Demon Annihilation Formation — A powerful array connected to the Blood-Devouring Divine Saber; Zhou Qing gradually learns its profound methods. 10 23 31
• Formation breaking — Disperses the Mystic Eight Trigrams Formation by identifying and destroying its core with jade talismans. 31

Second Primordial Spirit

Zhou Qing refined the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm into a Second Primordial Spirit using an ancient secret method and his own blood. It is effectively a second Zhou Qing, stronger than his main body. 9 10 12

• Can separate from his body and act independently. 12 17
• Wields Samadhi True Fire to destroy hostile remnants, refine materials, and purge poison from Zhou Chen. 14 17
• Drives formations with lifebound True Essence, vastly increasing their ability to gather spiritual energy. 16
• Can merge with Zhou Qing's main body, producing a golden-winged transformation. 47
• Its advancement is tied to the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm and Nine Li Sacred Blood. 33

Sword Arts

After taking the Soaring Sword Qi Art from Zhao Liang, Zhou Qing cultivates through a flying sword as a medium for absorbing heaven-and-earth energy. 1

• Uses sword qi to cut through a three-foot-thick steel plate. 17
• Employs Ten Thousand Swords from the Heart against the Monster Alliance, defeating Nether Ghost and destroying the Cat Demon's weapon. 19
• Recognizes and evaluates the sword techniques of Shu Mountain cultivators, including Xiang Hui's Myriad Swords Technique. 21

Blood-Devouring Divine Saber

The Nether Blood-Devouring Divine Saber is Zhou Qing's most dangerous weapon. Initially too unstable to control safely, it is sealed, studied, and eventually refined as his magic treasure. 7 10 24

• Repels Xuan Yuan Dharma King's Myriad Yin Soul Locking Hand. 48
• Contains the Heavenly Gods and Demons Array and the Twelve Divine Demon Annihilation Formation. 23 46
• Can release immense demonic energy and kill a Transformation Stage opponent such as Old Daoist Chenkong. 34 35
• Carries a significant risk of backlash, though Zhou Qing's understanding of the heavenly heart improves his control. 47

Artifact Refining

As heir to the Refining Sect, Zhou Qing is skilled in forging and modifying magical treasures. 1

• Refined his own flying sword from red copper, red-haired steel, and powdered precious materials. 1
• Reforged the damaged Azure Lock Sword with Samadhi True Fire and Liao Xiaojin's blood, prioritizing sharpness and speed. 17
• Created Liao Xiaojin's flying sword from the Violet Firmament Sword and Liao's blood; it bears nine golden stripes and can divide into nine streams of light. 12 31
• Identifies magical materials and treasures, including Ink Jade, Prime Gold of Taiyi, and the Xuantian Eight Trigrams Mirror. 1 17 32

Spiritual Perception

Zhou Qing is highly sensitive to elemental and spiritual-energy fluctuations. 1

• Detects active spells from subtle changes in surrounding elemental energy. 1
• Can sense spiritual-energy movement over a hundred-mile radius after condensing his Second Primordial Spirit. 39
• Sees through Meihu's fox form by channeling his Second Primordial Spirit. 14
• Evades divine-sense detection by entering Union of Heaven and Man. 46

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Blood-Devouring Divine Saber — Ancient demonic saber containing powerful formations; Zhou Qing's principal trump card. 7 23 34
• Six-Winged Golden Silkworm — Living spiritual creature refined into his Second Primordial Spirit. 9 10 12
• Azure Lock Sword — Prime Gold of Taiyi flying sword looted from Shu Mountain and later reforged. 1 17
• Gouchen Heavenly Book — Ancient artifact written in demon script and used by Zhou Qing as leverage against Tianxuan Blood Demon. 19 20
• Mani Wheel — Mysterious Buddhist prayer wheel that absorbs excess energy from the Blood-Devouring Divine Saber. 1 23
• Xuantian Eight Trigrams Mirror — Treasure used to break opponents' flying swords. 32
• Twelve command flags — Flags used to activate the formation within the saber. 23
• Shu Mountain token — A heavy Mystic Iron token given by Xu Jiankong as an invitation to Shu Mountain. 42

Relationships

• Daoist Ling Yun — Former master and predecessor of the Refining Sect; chose Zhou Qing as his successor before dying from Shu Mountain-inflicted injuries. 1
• Liao Xiaojin — First disciple and close combat partner; Zhou Qing teaches him Daoist cultivation, formations, and sword arts. 3 11 12
• Zhou Chen — Fox-spirit disciple whom Zhou Qing strengthens with the Eight Extremes Wolf King's Inner Core and supports in her revenge against Tianxuan Blood Demon. 15 16 29
• Zhou Can — Zhou Chen's younger sister, known as the Little Fox; receives the Heaven-Turning Seal from Zhou Qing. 25
• Meihu — Enchanting Fox Clan survivor rescued by Zhou Qing; seeks his help against the Monster Alliance. 14 15
• Ling Ruoshui — Woman rescued from Japanese cultivators; their relationship is marked by mutual suspicion and manipulation. 9 11
• Tianxuan Blood Demon — Monster Alliance leader and enemy connected to the fox sisters' suffering; repeatedly bargains and clashes with Zhou Qing. 19 20 29
• Xuan Yuan Dharma King — Ancient Yao and overwhelming threat who seeks Zhou Qing's Gouchen Heavenly Book, formations, and saber. 46 47 48
• Xu Jiankong — Shu Mountain cultivator who offers Zhou Qing a sect token and invitation while Zhou Qing poses as an overseas rogue cultivator. 42

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Refining Sect inheritance and Shu Mountain theft — Inherits the Refining Sect, kills Zhao Liang, and acquires the Soaring Sword Qi Art and Shu Mountain flying swords. 1
• Founding the Heavenly Dao Sect — Accepts Liao Xiaojin as his first disciple and begins establishing an independent sect and power base. 3 11
• Japanese cultivator conflict — Defeats Mitsui Taro through formations and borrowed thunder power, then gains possession of the Blood-Devouring Divine Saber and Golden Silkworm. 7 10
• Monster Alliance conflict — Rescues and trains fox spirits, confronts the Monster Alliance Four, and uses the Gouchen Heavenly Book against Tianxuan Blood Demon. 14 18 19
• Conflict with Shu Mountain and the Dragon Group — Protects Zhou Chen from Shu Mountain cultivators, destroys enemy formations, and silences pursuers after the confrontation escalates. 21 31 34
• Xuan Yuan Dharma King pursuit — Draws the attention of Xuan Yuan Dharma King through the saber's formations, gains insight into the Eight Nine Arcane Art, and withstands the ancient demon through restraint and deception. 44 46 47 48
• State Security Bureau encounter — Becomes aware of government-linked special-ability users after Zhou Jianwu follows him and Xuan Yuan Dharma King. 49 50