Zhang He

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang He (张合)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Pharmacist Association; Zhang family; formerly the Martial Child Academy
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; pharmacist; alchemist; creator and instructor of close-quarters martial techniques
Status	Cold Gate noble of Mengyin City; Bronze-Rank Pharmacist
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Force Martial Realm, seventh stage — True Qi Seed	4	Demonstrates at least 600 pounds of force by breaking a cowhide sandbag; has formed a True Qi seed.
Force Martial Realm, Skin Tempering	10	Reaches the realm after using five toxic materials to temper his body over two days in the mountains.
Force Martial Realm, near Brute Force	11	Absorbs Mad Heart Fox demon poison; reaches roughly nine shi of force and nears the ten-shi Brute Force Realm.
Force Martial Realm, Brute Force / peak	21 23	Kirin heat toxin further tempers his body; later identified as being at the ninth stage, the Brute Force Realm, while fighting Wu Xuan.
True Martial Realm, Blood Qi Realm	27	Uses a Void Insight Pill to clear his subcutaneous meridians; blood-red True Qi marks the breakthrough.
True Martial Realm, Body Protection Realm	28	Absorbs Cold Flood Dragon poison, raising his True Qi by 60% and directly advancing beyond Blood Qi; gains surface True Qi armor and icy True Qi.
True Martial Realm, Possession Realm	40	Reaches the third stage, allowing True Qi to attach to weapons and external objects.
True Martial Realm, Burst Qi Realm	48	Refines and consumes a Mind-Clearing Pill, fusing spirit and True Qi; gains internal vision and the ability to project True Qi at range.
True Martial Realm, fourth level	49	Advances further during seclusion; remains one acupoint short of completing the first stage of the Rejuvenation True Explanation.

Background / History

Zhang He begins as a poor Martial Child whose cultivation had previously been ruined. He climbs Malian Mountain to gather poisonous insects and refine Five Poison Beads, first to cure his mother and then to support his household through medicine sales. His expertise saves a venom-bitten young master and earns him Wang Pengyu's gratitude. 2 6 7

After consuming Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi, his body is cleansed of impurities and the birthmark on his forehead disappears. He cultivates Rejuvenation True Qi, a method that reverses toxins into nourishment, allowing venom and demon poison to temper his body rather than kill him. 4 7

At the Martial Child Academy, Zhang He repeatedly confronts the favoritism shown to wealthy pupils. He defeats Xu Le, Han Zhao, and Zhao Feng, but Dean Zhao ultimately expels him alongside Tang Risong and Wang Dachui. Rather than abandon the Martial Child Assessment, he trains his friends outside the academy. 8 9 17 19

His cultivation and combat ability develop rapidly through Mad Heart Fox poison, Kirin heat toxin, Cold Flood Dragon poison pills, and medicines he refines himself. He kills Wu Xuan after being targeted as a witness to the Cold Flood Dragon hunt, then uses the spoils from the encounter to aid his continued advancement. 11 21 23 24 27 28

Zhang He places first in the Mengyin City Martial Child Assessment, receives Cold Gate noble status, and secures qualification for the True Martial Academy entrance selection. Prince Qu also takes interest in his self-created close-quarters combat system. 35 36 38

Appearance

Following the cleansing effects of Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi, Zhang He's former forehead birthmark vanishes and his appearance becomes notably radiant. He is described as a handsome youth, though he often dresses plainly. 4 44 49

• Formerly bore a conspicuous birthmark on his forehead. 4
• Has lustrous, refined skin after later cultivation breakthroughs. 49
• Wears lightweight protective armor during the Martial Child Assessment. 33

Personality

Zhang He is practical, self-reliant, and intensely devoted to his mother and younger sister. His pursuit of money, cultivation resources, and status is consistently tied to securing their safety and improving their living conditions rather than pursuing fame for its own sake. 4 7 26 28 40

He remains composed under pressure, including when threatened by stronger enemies, framed at the academy, or provoked by nobles. He is also shrewd in business negotiations and willing to use deception, such as invoking his academy affiliation to delay Wang Dahei. 5 15 23 42 47

While generous toward friends and people he respects, Zhang He is ruthless toward those who present an ongoing danger. He kills Wu Xuan rather than leave a hostile Medicine King Valley disciple alive, cripples Zhao Lei after learning of Zhao Feng's plot, and destroys evidence with Corpse-Dissolving Powder. 23 24 30

Abilities & Skills

Rejuvenation True Explanation

Zhang He's cultivation method enables him to absorb toxins, combine them with True Qi, and reverse their properties into a body-strengthening tonic. 7

• Refines ordinary poisons and demon toxins into cultivation resources. 7 10 11
• Uses Rejuvenation True Qi for detoxification and healing. 12 21
• Converts Cold Flood Dragon poison into icy True Qi. 28
• Uses Kirin Bloodline heat toxin to forge his muscles and bones. 21
• The first stage requires eight opened acupoints; Zhang He has opened seven by the Body Protection Realm and remains one short after reaching the fourth True Martial level. 28 49

Poison and Medical Expertise

Zhang He possesses extensive knowledge of poisons, antidotes, and medicinal properties despite his early cultivation setbacks. 2 7

• Refines Five Poison Beads to cure venomous insect bites and Corpse Poison Beetle poison. 2 4 5
• Treats Lian Yunbi's Mad Heart Fox bite with Rejuvenation True Qi. 12
• Treats Lian Xiaodi's condition and absorbs the harmful Kirin heat toxin from his body. 21
• Offers to cure Old Man Qin's rheumatism-afflicted hands. 46

Alchemy and Pharmacology

Zhang He is an accomplished pharmacist and pill refiner whose formulas attract the Pharmacist Association's interest. 13 25 43

• Receives Iron-Rank Pharmacist status as the association's youngest Iron-Rank pharmacist. 13 25
• Refines Void Insight Pills, Mind-Clearing Pills, Body-Tempering Potion, and Detoxification and Beauty Pills. 24 25 48
• Uses Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pills during alchemy to solve a cooling problem. 25
• Is promoted to Bronze-Rank Pharmacist after the Body-Tempering Potion is verified. 47
• Retains the right to supply his potion to Prince Qu and his own network despite the association's exclusive agency agreement. 47

Martial Arts

Zhang He's fighting style favors efficient, decisive techniques and the use of True Qi to overcome opponents above his apparent level.

• Defeats Xu Le with a single punch and breaks Han Zhao's arm through a spinning counter. 8
• Uses Wild Ox Horn to smash the Brute Force puppet during the Martial Child Assessment and later rupture a cowhide sandbag. 28 33
• Uses Through-Back Fist to overpower Zhao Feng. 9
• Created a military-style close-quarters combat system emphasizing short, practical strikes and throws; he teaches it to Tang Risong and Wang Dachui. 19 36
• His techniques are valued by Prince Qu for improving ordinary soldiers' odds in close combat. 36

Half-Step Blast Fist

A unique martial skill designed specifically for use with the Rejuvenation True Explanation. 19 23

• Drives force through an opponent's outer defenses to damage them internally. 23
• Relies on Rejuvenation True Qi accelerating through opened acupoints for a double critical-strike effect. 11
• Cannot be fully unleashed until Zhang He opens all eight acupoints and completes the first stage of his cultivation method. 19 28 49

Business Acumen

Zhang He applies his knowledge of social class, medicine, and negotiation to support his family and accelerate his advancement.

• Develops a pricing strategy for Wang Family Pharmacy that sells the same medicine at different prices to different customers. 7
• Refuses Shopkeeper Liu's attempt to purchase his medicine at an unfairly low price. 5
• Negotiates compensation and terms with Master Lu rather than surrendering control of his pill formulas. 42 47

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Five Poison Beads — detoxifying beads refined from venomous insects; used for healing and sold as medicine. 2 4
• Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pills — Level 4 demonic-beast poison cores used to increase his True Qi and refine icy power. 25 28
• Universe Bags — two storage bags taken from Sun Shaochuan and Wu Xuan; contain alchemy tools, poison herbs, and Cold Flood Dragon materials. 24 25
• Iron-Rank and Bronze-Rank Pharmacist identity tokens — credentials issued by the Pharmacist Association. 25 47
• Jewelry designs and commissioned pieces — designs personally drawn by Zhang He and crafted by Old Man Qin, including a necklace designed to hold a Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill. 46 49

Relationships

• Mother Zhang — his mother; Zhang He cures her poison, protects her from the Wang family's pressure, and moves her into a new mansion. 2 26 28
• Zhang Yu — his younger sister; Zhang He is protective of her and rejects the Wang family's attempt to marry her to a mute Liu family member for status. 4 26
• Tang Risong / Fatty Tang — close friend and training partner; Zhang He teaches him combat techniques and helps him condense a True Qi Seed. 7 19 29
• Wang Dachui — close friend and training partner; Zhang He guides his cultivation and helps him condense a True Qi Seed. 17 19 29
• Lian Yunbi — noblewoman and growing romantic interest; Zhang He heals her, she publicly vouches for him, and he prepares jewelry for her birthday. 12 15 19 49
• Lian Xiaodi — Lian Yunbi's younger brother; Zhang He treats his illness and benefits from absorbing his Kirin heat toxin. 21
• Wang Pengyu — Wang Family Pharmacy figure who considers Zhang He his benefactor and friend after Zhang He saves him. 6 7
• A'can — powerful fighter sent by Wang Pengyu to assist Zhang He during the Biyuan Pavilion confrontation. 5 6
• Master Lu / Lu Tiao — Pharmacist Association sponsor and business partner; assists Zhang He's advancement and ingredient searches. 13 42 47
• Prince Qu — recognizes Zhang He's talent, grants him Cold Gate status, and offers future privileges for developing his combat system. 36
• Zhao Feng — persistent rival who repeatedly bullies, frames, and plots against Zhang He. 8 15 29 30
• Wang Renxiong — Zhang He's father; dismisses Zhang He and Mother Zhang after the academy expulsion. 26

Story Role / Major Arcs

Five Poison Beads and Wang Family Pharmacy

Zhang He refines Five Poison Beads to save his mother, uses them to rescue a venom-bitten young master, and turns the medicine into a source of income. His dispute with Biyuan Pavilion leads to Wang Pengyu and A'can entering his life. 2 5 6 7

Martial Child Academy Conflict

After returning to the academy with renewed strength, Zhang He defeats several wealthy bullies and becomes a target of Zhao Feng's group. He is framed, defended by Lian Yunbi, and later expelled with Tang Risong and Wang Dachui through Dean Zhao's bias. 8 9 15 17

Mountain Cultivation and Cold Flood Dragon Incident

Zhang He enters the mountains to seek poisons, rapidly advances through demon toxin refinement, heals Lian Yunbi, and later becomes entangled in the aftermath of a Cold Flood Dragon hunt. He kills Wu Xuan and acquires valuable cultivation and alchemy resources. 10 11 12 21 23 24

Martial Child Assessment

Zhang He trains Tang Risong and Wang Dachui outside the academy, reaches the True Martial Realm, clears all ten assessment puppets with ease, and ranks first in Mengyin City. His victory earns the Zhang family Cold Gate status. 19 29 33 35 36 38

Pharmacist Association Advancement

Having entered the Pharmacist Association as an Iron-Rank Pharmacist, Zhang He negotiates to distribute his Body-Tempering Potion, gains Bronze-Rank status, obtains rare herbs, refines the Mind-Clearing Pill, and reaches the Burst Qi Realm. 25 42 43 47 48

Notable Quotes

“What others saw as deadly poison, in Zhang He's hands, was a supreme tonic!” 7

“You may be able to twist the facts and drive the three of us out today, but you can only be smug for a moment.” 17

“If you find these techniques useful, I will not hide them. I am fully willing to hand over everything I have realized to make a contribution to our Western Chu Kingdom.” 36

Trivia

• Zhang He's birthmark disappears after he consumes Ten-Perfect Dominant Qi and purges impurities from his body. 4
• He is the youngest Iron-Rank Pharmacist in the Pharmacist Association at the time of his induction. 13
• He personally designs jewelry with detailed, near three-dimensional draftsmanship. 46
• His close-quarters techniques cause Tang Risong and Wang Dachui to develop a notably underhanded fighting style. 19