Zheng Yao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Zheng Yao served as the Azure Sea Immortal Palace deacon responsible for guarding Linyuan City. He organized the city’s semiannual Golden Core Trading Fair, inviting Golden Core cultivators to trade resources at the City Lord’s Mansion. Zhao Hao, while posing as Zhou Wuji, planned to attend one such gathering after receiving Zheng Yao’s invitation. Zheng Yao had previous disputes with the real Zhou Wuji, making the disguised Zhao Hao’s appearance a source of uncertainty for him. 85 86

At the fair, Zheng Yao acted as host and attempted to preserve order amid escalating disputes. He greeted “Zhou Wuji” warmly, later intervening to ease the confrontation between him and Chen Li after Zhao Hao displayed the Earth-Li Origin Flame. Zheng Yao used his mid-stage Golden Core mana to isolate the flame’s oppressive heat and urged Zhao Hao to end the matter for his sake. 87 89

Zheng Yao joined the Golden Roc Island hunting party alongside Zhao Hao, Wan Renli, and others. Distrusting Zhao Hao’s motives, he assigned him to guard the Azure Wood Heaven-Locking Array rather than participate directly in the hunt for the Golden Rocs. 90

After the failed scheme involving Zhao Hao, Zheng Yao met with Sun Hao and Wan Renli. When Zhao Hao returned alive, Zheng Yao attempted to mediate and offered compensation to avoid further conflict. 93

Five years later, Zheng Yao contacted “Zhou Wuji” regarding Linyuan City’s need for Golden Core cultivators ahead of a Sea Beast Tide. Zhao Hao instead approached him under the identity of “Zhao Ritian” and joined the city’s temporary garrison. 103

During the beast tide, Zheng Yao prioritized retaining capable defenders over ideological concerns. Although Zhao Ritian’s Ten Thousand Soul Banner exposed him as a demonic cultivator, Zheng Yao reacted less strongly than the Zhengyuan Sect cultivators present, focusing instead on the immediate threat to Linyuan City. 107

Personality

Zheng Yao presents himself as genial, courteous, and diplomatic when acting as Linyuan City’s host and administrator. He treated Zhao Ritian respectfully despite the latter’s rough manner and was willing to acknowledge the value of capable outside cultivators. 87 103

He is also suspicious and politically calculating. He sought to limit Zhao Hao’s access to Golden Roc spoils, tested Zhao Ritian’s strength before accepting his demands, and repeatedly negotiated over the cost of employing him for the beast-tide defense. 90 104 106

Zheng Yao is highly concerned with maintaining relationships and securing useful personnel. During the dispute between Zhao Ritian and the Zhengyuan Sect cultivators, he attempted to placate Fairy Bingyue while preventing Zhao Ritian—a powerful mid-stage Golden Core reinforcement—from leaving Linyuan City. 105 106

His pragmatism outweighs sectarian prejudice when Linyuan City’s interests are at stake. Rather than immediately rejecting Zhao Ritian after the latter used the demonic Ten Thousand Soul Banner, Zheng Yao remained focused on the city’s defensive needs. 107

His conduct during the beast tide exposed a more opportunistic side: he attempted to take Zhao Hao’s Ten Thousand Soul Banner after Zhao Hao’s apparent absence. When Zhao Hao returned, Zheng Yao tried to settle the confrontation with spirit stones, but failed to persuade him to remain in Linyuan City. 112

Story Role / Major Arcs

Golden Core Trading Fair

• Invites Zhou Wuji—actually Zhao Hao in disguise—to the Golden Core trade fair and banquet at the City Lord’s Mansion. 85 86
• Hosts the fair with a diplomatic demeanor, welcoming Zhao Hao and managing disputes among attendees. 87
• Attempts to maintain order after Zhao Hao intimidates Chen Li with the Earth-Li Origin Flame. 89
• Personally intervenes between Zhao Hao and the Chen family, using his mid-stage Golden Core mana to block the flame’s heat and asking Zhao Hao to give him face. 89

Golden Roc Island Hunt

• Joins the six-person Golden Core hunting squad targeting Golden Rocs on Golden Roc Island. 90
• Assigns Zhao Hao to guard the trapping array, intending to prevent him from taking the main spoils. 90
• Later participates in a failed plan against Zhao Hao with Sun Hao and Wan Renli; offers compensation when Zhao Hao confronts them. 93

Linyuan City Beast Tide

• Contacts Zhao Hao, then known to him as Zhou Wuji, about Linyuan City’s garrison shortage before the Sea Beast Tide. 103
• Initially offers Zhao Ritian the standard remuneration of 40,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones, with additional spoils distributed by contribution. 104
• Raises his offer to 60,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones, the corpses of beasts Zhao Ritian personally kills, and three opportunities to select essence blood after Zhao Ritian demands greater compensation. 104
• Tests Zhao Ritian through duels involving Zhang Quan and Fairy Bingyue. 104 105
• Further raises the terms to 80,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones and five priority opportunities to select demon-beast essence blood in exchange for Zhao Ritian not using his third-rank supreme-grade flying sword against Fairy Bingyue. 106
• Remains comparatively restrained after Zhao Ritian reveals the demonic Ten Thousand Soul Banner, unlike the visibly hostile Zhengyuan Sect cultivators. 107
• Grows suspicious when Zhao Hao retreats from the third-tier sea beasts rather than joining the defense. 108
• Gives Zhao Ritian an Array Access Token after he requests one during the beast-tide defense. 109
• Attempts to seize the Ten Thousand Soul Banner after the beast tide retreats, prompting Zhao Hao to leave Linyuan City despite Zheng Yao’s offer of additional spirit stones. 112

Relationships

• Zhao Hao / “Zhou Wuji” / “Zhao Ritian” — Their relationship is marked by past tension, mutual suspicion, negotiations, and Zheng Yao’s unsuccessful efforts to manage or exploit Zhao Hao’s strength. Zheng Yao treats Zhao Ritian as an unaffiliated mid-stage Golden Core rogue cultivator and does not recognize him as Zhou Wuji. 86 90 103 112
• Sun Hao — Fellow participant in the failed plot against Zhao Hao; Zheng Yao later discusses the consequences with him and Wan Renli. 93
• Wan Renli — Fellow Golden Core cultivator involved in the Golden Roc Island hunt and subsequent failed scheme against Zhao Hao. 90 93
• Fairy Bingyue — A Golden Core cultivator Zheng Yao uses to test Zhao Ritian’s strength through a sparring match. He also tries to preserve their relationship while retaining Zhao Ritian for the city’s defense. 104 105 106
• Zhang Quan — A Golden Core cultivator involved in Zheng Yao’s test of Zhao Ritian; Zhang Quan later provokes conflict during the beast-tide aftermath and encourages Zheng Yao to “safeguard” Zhao Hao’s Ten Thousand Soul Banner. 104 105 112
• Chen Li — The head of Linyuan City’s Chen family, whose dispute with Zhao Hao forces Zheng Yao to intervene as host. 87 89