Hu Zhenkui

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hu Zhenkui (胡真岿)
Alias(es)	Clan Head; Patriarch
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hu Clan main family
Occupation/Role	Head of the Hu Clan; Secret Martial Artist
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 35

Background / History

Hu Zhenkui presides over the Hu Clan’s Ancestral Rite and introduces the Strength Bearing Festival, selecting the strongest clan member aged fifteen to twenty-five as the Hammer Holder. He recognizes Hu Long’s exceptional display with the 1,200-jin Deer Cauldron and names him the winner. 35 38

After the festival, he personally bone-reads the eligible youths for Secret Martial Arts aptitude. Hu Long’s prior Ding-grade record has changed to the highest grade, Jia, and Hu Zhenkui also discovers that he has already grasped part of Integrated Force. 40

He explains the Secret Martial Artist path to the youths, demonstrates his power by piercing an iron incense burner barehanded, and outlines the seven realms of cultivation. He also answers Hu Long’s questions about curses and wicked arts, explaining that Skin Refining protects oneself from most curses, while higher stages may counter certain wicked arts. 41 42

Hu Zhenkui initially suspects that Hu Long’s abrupt transformation may mean he is not truly a Hu clansman, ordering a DNA comparison and authorizing execution if the lineage is false. However, he later accepts Hu Long after confirming his Hu Family bloodline and deciding that his extraordinary potential is more valuable than further investigation. 43 62 73

As Hu Long’s abilities attract external threats, Hu Zhenkui deploys the clan’s resources against remnants of the Pure Fire Sect and begins preparing Hu Long and Hu Zetong for the Southern Province Alliance. He grants Hu Long access to the Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art’s Divine Intent Diagram after Hu Long exposes Black Reef’s infiltration of the Tongbei Club. 62 64 75

Appearance

Hu Zhenkui is an older man who appears to be around sixty, though his place in the Hu Clan’s generational hierarchy makes his true age unclear. He carries himself with the composed authority of a clan patriarch. 42

• Wears a black long robe during the Strength Bearing Festival. 38
• Has a beard which he strokes while observing promising juniors. 38
• Uses a pitch-black iron staff in his training ground. 63
• Can manifest an oppressive black-ape-like presence through his Qi Mechanism. 63 73

Personality

Hu Zhenkui is composed, authoritative, and highly protective of the Hu Clan’s interests. He values bloodline, unity, and the continued prosperity of the family, believing its inherited Secret Martial Arts are the foundation of its centuries-long survival. 39

He is cautious rather than blindly trusting. Hu Long’s sudden aptitude causes him to order a DNA test, and he privately recognizes that there may be unexplained aspects to Hu Long’s development. 43 62

Despite this suspicion, Hu Zhenkui can be pragmatic and supportive toward valuable clan members. He rewards talent, provides Hu Li with an Earth Pattern Fruit to support her breakthrough, personally trains Hu Long and Hu Zetong, and ultimately chooses to protect Hu Long rather than force an investigation that could turn a future asset into an enemy. 43 64 73

Abilities & Skills

Secret Martial Artist Cultivation

Hu Zhenkui is a Secret Martial Artist at the late stage of the Bone Tempering Realm, placing him a full major realm above Jade Skin practitioners such as Hu Long. 72 73

• Has mastered Dark Force, allowing force to penetrate through an opponent’s skin and into their body. 72
• Can externally project force to immobilize or assess a person’s body during bone-reading. 40
• His raw strength is lower than Hu Long’s extraordinary physical strength, but his superior force control enables him to contend with stronger opponents. 72 73

Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art

Hu Zhenkui possesses the Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art (Bone Tempering Chapter, Level 9). It is a Secret Martial Art modeled on the form of a spirit ape and is the Hu Clan’s true martial inheritance. 40 46

• Creates a powerful, ape-like Qi Mechanism that can pressure weaker beings. 63
• Its cultivation can produce the dangerous Heart Ape, a demonic nature that drives practitioners toward bloodlust and loss of control. 73
• Its advanced stages require strong self-control and temperament to avoid being consumed by the Heart Ape. 67 73

Qi Mechanism

Hu Zhenkui can condense and project a Qi Mechanism, an external manifestation of a Secret Martial Artist’s physical body, will, spirit, and cultivation. 63

• Suppresses life forms whose cultivation is far below the user’s. 63
• Tested Hu Long and Hu Zetong with his Qi Mechanism; Hu Long remained steady, while Hu Zetong was overwhelmed by fear. 63
• Can manifest as a blurry, several-meter-tall black ape accompanied by ferocious killing intent. 63

Red Sand Hand

Hu Zhenkui possesses Red Sand Hand at the Proficient level, a secret technique that strengthens the hands and requires mastery of force. 40

• Causes his palms to take on a faint red coloration. 41 72
• Produces scorching force capable of evaporating snow and severely damaging opponents through direct exchanges. 72
• Used the technique to pierce an iron incense burner with his bare hand. 41
• Its advanced effects include force penetration, which threatened to ruin Hu Long’s arms during their sparring match. 72

Mad Demon Staff

Hu Zhenkui possesses the Mad Demon Staff at the Skilled level. 40

• Uses a pitch-black iron staff during training and demonstrations. 63
• The specific techniques of Mad Demon Staff have not yet been shown.

Equipment / Items

• Pitch-black iron staff — wielded in his personal training ground. 63
• Earth Pattern Fruit — a rare cultivation resource he gives to Hu Li to assist her Skin Refining breakthrough. 43
• Secret Martial Arts weapons rack — maintains weapons for gifted Body Casting Realm clan members to train their Integrated Force. 64

Relationships

• Hu Long — Clan junior whose sudden talent initially causes suspicion; Hu Zhenkui later becomes his protector, mentor, and political backer. 40 43 62 73
• Hu Li — Granddaughter and talented clan cultivator; Hu Zhenkui supports her advancement with an Earth Pattern Fruit. 43
• Hu Tongtong — Granddaughter, who calls him “Grandpa.” 62
• Hu Zetong — Gifted young clansman with Innate Divine Strength; Hu Zhenkui places expectations on him but considers his temperament and judgment inferior to Hu Long’s. 63 64
• Hu Qitian — Tongbei Club instructor responsible for guiding selected Hu Clan youths into Secret Martial Arts. 45 46

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ancestral Rite and Strength Bearing Festival

Hu Zhenkui oversees the Ancestral Rite, announces the Strength Bearing Festival, and declares Hu Long the Hammer Holder after his unprecedented cauldron lift. 35 38

Secret Martial Artist Selection

He tests the younger clansmen’s aptitude, identifies Hu Long as a Grade Jia talent, and introduces the selected youths to Secret Martial Arts and its cultivation realms. 40 41

Hu Long’s Lineage Investigation

Concerned by Hu Long’s late-emerging talent, Hu Zhenkui orders a DNA test. He later confirms Hu Long’s Hu Family lineage and stops pursuing the unexplained details of his transformation. 43 62

Southern Province Alliance Preparations

Hu Zhenkui recruits Hu Long and Hu Zetong as prospective representatives for the Southern Province Alliance, equips them with training weapons, and teaches them corresponding Secret Martial Arts. 63 64

Recognition of Hu Long’s Genius

After witnessing Hu Long’s Jade Skin cultivation, Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art, and rapid imitation of Red Sand Hand, Hu Zhenkui accepts that Hu Long is an unprecedented genius. He warns him of the Heart Ape, protects his place in the clan, and advises him to conceal his strength outside the Main Family Compound. 71 73

Black Reef Exposure

Hu Zhenkui accepts Hu Long’s intelligence about Black Reef’s infiltration through “Hu Xue” and rewards him with access to the Hu Family’s Spirit Ape Divine Intent Diagram. 75

Notable Quotes

“Moves are the surface, Jing is the core; the foundation of secret martial arts cultivation lies in ‘Jing’.” 41

“As long as you are of the Hu Family bloodline, nothing else matters.” 73

Trivia

• Hu Zhenkui’s Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art alone has a download size of 87M on Hu Long’s panel, far exceeding ordinary skills. 40
• He possesses at least five special skills, though only Spirit Ape Secret Martial Art, Red Sand Hand, and Mad Demon Staff have been identified. 40
• He believes Hu Long’s Innate Divine Strength may be the opportunity the Hu Family needs to truly rise among the clans. 77