Zhu Youning

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhu Youning (朱友宁)
Alias(es)	Prince An; Anren; Yanri
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Liang Dynasty; Pinglu
Occupation/Role	Prince An; Pinglu Jiedushi; Acting Minister of Works; former Jiedushi of the Jianwu Army; former commander of the Left and Right Longxiang Armies
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Great Star Realm	2	Initial documented realm after transmigrating; severely injured from a fatal horse fall.
Small-Heaven Realm	10	Reached after cultivating the Li Tang imperial clan's Qi Scripture; could project True Qi and blast a two-meter-wide hole through a wall from over ten meters away.
Mid-Heaven Realm	13	Advanced after consuming a Tianshan Snow Lotus tonic, aided by the system and Qi Scripture.
Great Heavenly Rank	22	Absorbed Li Cunxiao's internal strength through the Northern Dark Divine Art; gained substantially enhanced strength, speed, perception, and denser internal power.

Background

Zhu Youning is the son of Prince Lang Zhu Cun and nephew of Great Liang's emperor, Zhu Wen. His elder brother, Zhu Youlun, died while serving as a palace guard for Tang Emperor Zhaozong, leaving Zhu Youning as Zhu Cun's sole surviving heir. Zhu Wen favors him because of Zhu Cun's past care for him and the wishes of their mother, Lady Wang. 1 4

The original Zhu Youning died after falling from a horse on the battlefield. A man from Earth transmigrated into his body, inheriting his identity, memories, political position, and injuries. Recognizing that Great Liang faces succession disputes, hostile states, and the eventual threat of the Buliangren, he resolves to secure his survival and become a player rather than a pawn in the coming conflict. 1

At the time of his transmigration, he receives the I Practice Martial Arts From the Heart system. Its auto-cultivation function allows him to train up to four martial arts at once, gain Cultivation Waves, and exchange them for martial arts, medicines, and other resources. 2

Appearance

Zhu Youning is described as handsome and imposing, with an elegant, free-spirited bearing that contrasts with his military background. Wang Shifan compares his refined appearance and presence to “Beautiful Zhou Lang.” 1 16

• Upright features, sword-like brows, and star-like eyes. 16
• Carries himself with the bearing of a high-ranking prince and commander.
• Uses Liang soldier armor and an iron mask while operating under the alias Yanri. 40

Personality

Zhu Youning is ambitious, calculating, and highly conscious of the danger surrounding him. After learning Great Liang's precarious position, he prioritizes self-preservation, political influence, and rapid martial advancement. 1

He habitually hides his strength and intentions. He feigns weakness before Meng Po, rejects Zhu Youwen's poisoned Xuanming Blood Pill without provoking him, and conceals his Great Heavenly Rank while acting as Yanri. 2 12 41

Despite his ruthlessness in political struggles, Zhu Youning shows concern for soldiers, refugees, and commoners. He visits families of fallen soldiers, purchases supplies for his army, and frames his work in Pinglu as serving the people's tranquility rather than merely securing territory. 22 29 42 48

Abilities & Skills

I Practice Martial Arts From the Heart System

A game-like system visible only to Zhu Youning that automates cultivation and converts completed training into Cultivation Waves.

• Can auto-cultivate up to four martial arts simultaneously. 2
• Rare medicines and treasures accelerate cultivation progress. 2 5
• Exchanges Cultivation Waves for martial arts, medicines, and items. 3 6 28
• Includes a backpack capable of storing ordinary, non-system objects such as food and weapons. 4

Northern Dark Divine Art

A peerless internal art exchanged for 100 Cultivation Waves.

• Produces Northern Dark True Qi, which can alternate between masculine, furnace-like heat and feminine, ice-cold energy. 7
• Absorbs and converts other people's internal energy with minimal waste. 9
• Allows him to absorb the internal strength of weaker opponents through contact with his acupoints. 13
• Enabled his rapid rise to the Great Heavenly Rank after absorbing Li Cunxiao's power. 22

Qi Scripture

An internal cultivation manual formerly belonging to the Li Tang imperial family, found among Zhu Youlun's possessions.

• Cleanses meridians and strengthens the body's foundation. 9 13
• Enables external release of True Qi. 10 13
• Its first cultivation pushed Zhu Youning from the Great Star Realm to the Small-Heaven Realm. 10

Wedding Dress Divine Art

A peerless art based on destruction and rebuilding.

• Initially cultivated as the “Pseudo” Wedding Dress Divine Art; its full state requires retraining after transferring its accumulated power. 28
• Generates Mysterious Origin Heavenly Stellar Earthly Fiend Qi. 28
• Zhu Youning cultivated it to roughly seventy percent before transferring its stored power to Zhong Xiaokui and beginning again. 46 47
• Its rebuilding principle may offer a solution to Miaocheng Tian's Innate Severed Meridians. 48

Yin Yang Fusion Art

A harmonizing internal art acquired alongside the Wedding Dress Divine Art.

• Allows multiple types of True Qi to coexist rather than conflict. 28
• Specifically balances Northern Dark True Qi with the Wedding Dress Divine Art's Heavenly Stellar Earthly Fiend Qi. 28

Inverted Dragon and Phoenix Art

A dual-cultivation internal art taken from Black and White Impermanence.

• Requires at least two practitioners and cannot be auto-cultivated. 42
• During dual cultivation, the stronger practitioner can transfer more True Qi to—or siphon energy from—the weaker one. 49
• Zhu Youning uses it in an effort to cure Miaocheng Tian's Innate Severed Meridians. 48

Other Martial Arts

• Dragon-Snake Spear Technique — A sharp, swift spear art derived from battlefield drills; its sixth form is Wind and Cloud Color Change. 2 5
• Tiger Roar Art — An internal art with fierce, rigid True Qi. 2 13
• Nine Yin: Healing Chapter — A healing art used to accelerate recovery from his horse-fall injuries. 3 7
• Breath Concealment Technique — Masks his internal breath, making it difficult for others to discern his true realm unless he fights. 28

Equipment / Items

• Recurve bow, long sword, and long spear kept at his residence. 1
• System backpack containing food, medicinal supplies, and weapons. 4 13
• Great Liang Invincible General Cannon blueprint, secretly obtained from the Directorate of Armaments. 11 12
• Thirty jars of Volatile Fire. 12
• Iron mask and ordinary Liang soldier armor used for his Yanri identity. 40

Relationships

• Zhu Wen — Uncle and emperor of Great Liang. Zhu Wen favors Zhu Youning, grants him offices, and often accepts his counsel, though their relationship remains politically fraught. 1 10 39
• Zhu Cun — Father; deceased Prince Lang and Zhu Wen's second elder brother. 1 4
• Zhu Youlun — Elder brother; deceased Prince Mi. Zhu Youning supports his widow and daughter after his death. 1 9
• Lady Li — Sister-in-law and Zhu Youlun's widow. Zhu Youning visits Prince Mi's Mansion and offers her support. 9
• Zhan'er — Niece. He rescues her from a tree and intends to teach her martial arts. 9
• Wu Yi — Trusted personal guard commander and subordinate who has protected Zhu Youning in battle. 5 22
• Wang Shifan — Former opponent whose execution Zhu Youning prevents; later pledges loyalty to him. 10 23
• Zhu Youwen — Cousin, Ghost King of the Xuanming Cult, and political rival. Zhu Youning rejects his attempt to bind him through the Xuanming Blood Pill. 12
• Zhu Yougui — Cousin, the Underworld Emperor. He attempts to turn Zhu Wen against Zhu Youning and later conspires against him with Meng Po. 26 38 42
• Zhu Youzhen — Cousin and Prince Jun. His faction attacks Zhu Youning politically; Zhu Youning's accusation of grave desecration leads to Zhu Youzhen's execution. 34 37
• Miaocheng Tian — Huan Yin Workshop Saintess initially disguised as a maidservant. Zhu Youning seeks to cure her Innate Severed Meridians through the Inverted Dragon and Phoenix Art. 23 48
• Xuanjing Tian — Miaocheng Tian's sister and fellow Huan Yin Workshop Saintess, also embedded in Zhu Youning's household. 23 29
• Zhong Xiaokui — Formerly tied to Zhu Youwen; becomes Zhu Youning's bodyguard and pledges loyalty after he transfers Wedding Dress Divine Art power to raise her to the Great Heavenly Rank. 44 46 47
• Liu Xun — Talented general requested by Zhu Youning for the Pinglu campaign and brought under his command. 39 42
• Black and White Impermanence — Zhu Youwen's disciples. Zhu Youning intimidates them as Yanri and takes their Inverted Dragon and Phoenix Art manual, but spares them for future use. 40 42
• Meng Po / Shi Yao — Xuanming Cult elder secretly serving as the Buliangren's Tianyou Star. Zhu Youning recognizes her as a dangerous enemy. 2

Story Role / Major Arcs

Transmigration and Recovery

After taking over Prince An's body, Zhu Youning survives his injuries through medicinal supplements, healing arts, and system-assisted cultivation. He quickly begins acquiring martial arts and resources while concealing the scale of his recovery. 1 7

Wang Shifan and Luoyang

Zhu Youning persuades Zhu Wen to spare Wang Shifan, receives the posts of Pinglu Jiedushi and Acting Minister of Works, and leads elite Longxiang cavalry toward Luoyang. He turns Wang Shifan into an ally while uncovering the presence of Huan Yin Workshop agents Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian. 10 13 23

Rise to Great Heavenly Rank

Using the Northern Dark Divine Art, Zhu Youning absorbs Li Cunxiao's internal strength and reaches the Great Heavenly Rank. He hides this advance, recognizing that public knowledge of his power would create further danger. 22

Court Power Struggle

Zhu Youning counters Zhu Youzhen's impeachment campaign and engineers his downfall through an accusation of grave desecration. Zhu Yougui and Zhu Youwen subsequently become increasingly wary of Zhu Youning's influence. 34 37 38

Pinglu Appointment

After being formally assigned to Pinglu, Zhu Youning relinquishes command of the Longxiang Armies, recruits craftsmen and Liu Xun, and travels toward Qingzhou. En route, he survives ambushes and takes Zhong Xiaokui as a bodyguard. 42 44

Building Loyalty in Qingzhou

Zhu Youning elevates Zhong Xiaokui to the Great Heavenly Rank by transferring his Wedding Dress Divine Art cultivation, securing her loyalty. After arriving in Qingzhou, he begins cultivating the Inverted Dragon and Phoenix Art with Miaocheng Tian in an attempt to heal her condition. 46 49

Trivia

• Zhu Youning's courtesy name is Anren. 1
• He was appointed Prince An and Jiedushi of the Jianwu Army at approximately twenty years old. 1
• His system's adventure dungeons are non-functional due to changes caused by the world he entered. 2
• He regards the fall of Great Liang as a personal existential threat: if the dynasty falls, his rank and safety will disappear with it. 1