Zong Ling

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zong Ling (宗凌)
Alias(es)	Uncle Zong
Species/Race	Six-Armed Snake Demon; Snake-man royal bloodline
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Snow Eagle Territory; Snow Stone Castle
Occupation/Role	Knight; guardian, mentor, and caretaker of the Dongbo brothers; handler of Snow Eagle Territory affairs
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Heaven-Rank Knight	7	As a Six-Armed Snake Demon, he could temporarily contend with Meteor-rank knight Gai Bin through his immense strength, agility, and six-weapon attacks.
Meteor-level Knight	22	Confirmed as having reached the Meteor level when the Curved Blade Alliance ambushed him and Dongbo Xueying.

Background / History

Zong Ling was a companion of Dongbo Lie and Moyang Yu during their adventures. He and Tong San answered the summons when the Moyang Clan came for the Dongbo couple, but he recognized that no one below the Transcendent realm could compel the clan to release them. After their capture, he remained at Snow Stone Castle to help preserve order and care for their sons. 3 4

He harbored unspoken affection for Moyang Yu, but accepted that she chose Dongbo Lie. When she became pregnant, he and Tong San were overjoyed; over time, both men came to regard Dongbo Xueying as their own child. 8

Following the Dongbo couple's disappearance, Zong Ling handled Snow Eagle Territory's mundane affairs, allowing Xueying to devote himself to spear training. He also educated Xueying on a lord's responsibility to defend the territory and its people. 6 7

Appearance

Zong Ling is a silver-haired Snake-man whose face resembles a human's, a trait identifying him as Snake-man royalty.

• Long silver hair.
• Usually wears a black robe to conceal his six arms.
• Has a green snake tail roughly two meters long and as thick as a man's thigh. 3
• Can use his tail for exceptional leverage, mobility, and rapid leaps. 19 20

Personality

Zong Ling is intelligent, level-headed, and habitually restrained. Even when devastated by the Dongbo couple's capture, he kept his grief beneath a calm exterior rather than openly displaying it. 3

He is protective without being blindly indulgent. He worried that Xueying's extreme training might damage his state of mind, warned him about the limits of sparring and lack of real combat experience, and repeatedly prioritized Xueying's safety during their expedition into the Destruction Mountain Range. 6 16 20

Abilities & Skills

Six-Armed Snake Demon Physiology

As a royal-blooded Six-Armed Snake Demon, Zong Ling possesses substantial natural physical advantages over ordinary knights.

• Can wield six blades simultaneously in combat. 7 21
• Uses his snake tail to enhance mobility and make rapid, agile directional changes. 7 19
• His Six-Armed Snake Demon constitution allows severe internal injuries to heal within one or two months. 7

Knight Combat

Zong Ling was a Heaven-Rank Knight before advancing to Meteor level.

• Could withstand several exchanges with Meteor Knight Gai Bin despite the difference in rank. 7
• His six-armed fighting style is especially effective against groups. 22
• Uses six blades to efficiently dissect Magic Beast corpses and harvest valuable materials. 21

Wilderness Experience

Zong Ling had previously trained in the outer regions of the Destruction Mountain Range and served as Xueying's guide there.

• Understood the danger of Magic Beast territories and advised retreat from the Silver Moon Wolf Pack. 16 18
• Helped identify the likely search area and travel routes of the Curved Blade Alliance. 18
• Supervised Xueying's adjustment to real life-or-death combat and encouraged him to learn from each battle. 17

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Six blades — used for combat and Magic Beast dissection. 21
• Alchemical inner armor — protected him from Gai Bin's three blade strikes, limiting the damage to internal injuries. 7

Relationships

• Dongbo Xueying — guardian, mentor, and uncle figure. Zong Ling helped raise him after his parents' capture, managed territory affairs during his training, and accompanied him into the Destruction Mountain Range. 6 8 16 20
• Dongbo Qingshi — caretaker and uncle figure. He helped look after Qingshi at Snow Stone Castle and protected him during Xiang Pangyun's attack. 4 63
• Dongbo Lie — former adventuring companion and close friend; Lie entrusted the care of his children to Zong Ling and Tong San. 3 20
• Moyang Yu — former adventuring companion for whom Zong Ling privately held affection; he remained loyal to her family after she chose Dongbo Lie. 8
• Tong San — fellow former adventurer and co-guardian of the Dongbo brothers. The two jointly supported Xueying and discussed the territory's threats. 3 7 12
• Gai Bin — leader of the Curved Blade Alliance and a former adversary. Gai Bin seriously injured Zong Ling before the alliance was later destroyed. 7 22 24

Story Role / Major Arcs

Separation and stewardship

After Dongbo Lie and Moyang Yu were taken by the Moyang Clan, Zong Ling remained in Snow Eagle Territory with Tong San. He helped maintain Snow Stone Castle and raise the Dongbo brothers. 3 4 8

Curved Blade Alliance threat

Zong Ling confronted Curved Blade Alliance leader Gai Bin after the bandits killed more than five hundred civilians in Snow Eagle Territory. Though badly injured, he explained the regional threat to Xueying and impressed upon him the duty of a territorial lord to protect his people. 7

Destruction Mountain Range expedition

He accompanied Xueying and one hundred soldiers into the Destruction Mountain Range to seek the Curved Blade Alliance and obtain resources for Qingshi's apprenticeship. He guided Xueying through repeated encounters with Magic Beasts, monitored his growth in combat, and harvested materials from the Silver Moon Wolf King. 16 17 21

Destruction of the Curved Blade Alliance

When Gai Bin's forces ambushed the pair, Zong Ling fought beside Xueying. After the alliance was defeated, he cornered surviving bandits and helped recover its treasure. 22 24

Black Wind Abyss aftermath

During Xiang Pangyun's assault on Snow Stone Castle, Zong Ling obeyed Xueying's order to protect Qingshi. After Xueying was swept into the Black Wind Abyss, he reported the battle to Si Chen and upheld Xueying's final wish that Qingshi separate from Ji Rong. 63 73

Reunion

Zong Ling was among the family members who welcomed Xueying back after his six-year absence and learned that he had become a Transcendent. 86

Notable Quotes

“As a lord, you possess control over your territory, but you are also obligated to protect it and all the subjects within it!” 7