Shen Gongbao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shen Gongbao (申公豹)
Alias(es)	Daoist Shen; Imperial Preceptor / State Preceptor of Great Shang
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Shang Dynasty; Interception Sect under Golden Spirit Holy Mother; formerly Jade Void Palace and the Elucidation Sect
Occupation/Role	Imperial Preceptor of Great Shang; disciple of Golden Spirit Holy Mother; cultivator and recruiter
Status	Active; expelled from Jade Void Palace
First Appearance	29

Power Progression

Chapter(s)	Development	Details
29–30	Elucidation Sect cultivation	Shen Gongbao possessed an unstated cultivation realm and the cultivation arts and secret techniques of Jade Void Palace. 29 30
30	Retained cultivation after expulsion	Yuanshi Tianzun erased his Elucidation Sect techniques and secret arts but deliberately preserved his cultivation realm. 30
58	Entered the Interception Sect	Golden Spirit Holy Mother accepted Shen Gongbao as her fourth disciple and ordered him to remain at Jade Wanderer Palace to learn her cultivation techniques. His resulting realm is not stated. 58
56–58	Completed a period of seclusion	Shen Gongbao was present at Great Shang court after emerging from seclusion, then later remained at Jade Wanderer Palace for further cultivation. No confirmed breakthrough is stated. 56 58

Background / History

Shen Gongbao was a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun at Jade Void Palace and a fellow disciple of Jiang Shang (Ziya). He arrived at Chaoge declaring that he admired Di Xin's talent and sought to contribute to Great Shang's prosperity. Di Xin appointed him Imperial Preceptor, though the post was deliberately intended as an honorary position without real authority, allowing Great Shang to avoid openly rejecting Yuanshi Tianzun's apparent envoy. 29

Pleased that he had received a post Jiang Shang had not received during his own visit to Chaoge, Shen Gongbao became openly prideful. Di Xin asked him to invite his many acquaintances from across the Primordial World to serve Great Shang, and promised to establish an Imperial Preceptor's Residence for him. 30

Soon after leaving Chaoge, Shen Gongbao was captured by his senior brother Antarctic Immortal under Yuanshi Tianzun's order. Yuanshi accused him of repeatedly obstructing Jiang Shang's mission to preside over the Investiture of the Gods and attempting to seize control of the Investiture of the Gods List. Yuanshi erased Shen Gongbao's Elucidation Sect cultivation arts and secret techniques, expelled him from Jade Void Palace, but left his cultivation realm intact. 30

After the expulsion, Yuanshi Tianzun further decreed that the Twelve Golden Immortals were forbidden from aiding Shen Gongbao and could kill him if they encountered him disrupting Jiang Shang's Investiture of the Gods mission. 31

Following his expulsion, Shen Gongbao sought support from the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island. He presented them with a selective account of his treatment and asked to be brought to Jade Wanderer Palace so that Tongtian Sage could “uphold justice” for him. The Four Sages could not take him there, but told him that Grand Tutor Wen Zhong—an Interception Sect direct disciple—could enter Jade Wanderer Palace directly. 35 36

Shen Gongbao returned to Chaoge to wait for Wen Zhong, only to learn that Wen had already been sent on a secret task. Di Xin nevertheless allowed him to retain his residence and position while he waited. 39

When Wen Zhong later agreed to bring him to Golden Turtle Island, Shen Gongbao pledged to obey Wen's orders in return. Tongtian Sage declined to accept Shen Gongbao personally, but permitted him to enter the Interception Sect through one of the four direct disciples. Shen Gongbao prompted Wen Zhong to plead on his behalf, and Golden Spirit Holy Mother accepted him as her fourth disciple. 56 58

Golden Spirit Holy Mother ordered Shen Gongbao to support Wen Zhong in Great Shang, treating Wen's decisions as her own, and directed him to remain at Jade Wanderer Palace to receive cultivation instruction. 58

Appearance

Shen Gongbao appears as a middle-aged Daoist in a black-and-white Daoist robe. 29

• Middle-aged facial appearance. 29
• Wears black-and-white Daoist robes. 29
• Is capable of flight and void travel. 30 31

Personality

Shen Gongbao is ambitious, status-conscious, and deeply competitive with Jiang Shang. His appointment as Imperial Preceptor immediately fuels his pride, and he privately celebrates it as proof that he has surpassed Ziya in Di Xin's favor. 30

He is persistent when disadvantaged. After his cultivation arts are erased and he is expelled from Jade Void Palace, he focuses on the fact that his cultivation realm remains, swears to make his former sect regret its decision, and immediately seeks another path forward. 30 31

He is also persuasive and selective in how he presents events. His account to the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island is described as a mixture of truth and falsehood, but it wins their sympathy. 35 36

His desperation to regain a sectarian patron is paired with calculated manipulation. At Jade Wanderer Palace, he uses a meaningful glance to induce Wen Zhong to recommend him to Golden Spirit Holy Mother, securing her acceptance as his new master. 58

Despite his personal ambitions, Shen Gongbao identifies his interests with Great Shang and Wen Zhong after joining the Interception Sect. He pledges obedience to Wen Zhong, personally recruits aid for Sishui Pass, and invokes both his office and senior-brother relationship with Wen as reasons to defend Great Shang. 56 73 75 76

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation

Yuanshi Tianzun does not abolish Shen Gongbao's cultivation realm when expelling him from Jade Void Palace. His exact realm is not stated. 30

• Can fly through the air and travel through the void. 30 31
• Retains his cultivation despite losing his Jade Void techniques. 30
• His former Elucidation Sect cultivation arts and secret techniques were erased by Yuanshi Tianzun. 30
• Became Golden Spirit Holy Mother's fourth disciple and remained at Jade Wanderer Palace to receive Interception Sect cultivation instruction. 58
• His cultivation level after entering the Interception Sect is not stated. 58

Networking and Recruitment

Shen Gongbao claims to have friends throughout the Primordial World and assures Di Xin that they would answer his invitation to serve Great Shang. 30

• Was tasked with recruiting capable cultivators for Great Shang. 30 56
• Sought assistance from the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island after his expulsion. 35
• Attempted to use Wen Zhong's status as an Interception Sect direct disciple to gain access to Tongtian Sage. 36 39
• Successfully brought Zhao Gongming to Sishui Pass to support Wen Zhong and Great Shang. 73 75
• Was ordered by Wen Zhong to recruit an Interception Sect formation expert to repair Sishui Pass's damaged formation. 76
• Subsequently brought the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island and the Ten Heavenly Lords to Sishui Pass as reinforcements. 87

Position in Great Shang

• Imperial Preceptor / State Preceptor — Appointed directly by Di Xin upon arriving in Chaoge. 29
• Imperial Preceptor's Residence — Granted a large residence southwest of Chaoge, staffed by several hundred attendants. 30 39 40
• Chief steward Li Ji — Appointed by Shen Gongbao to oversee the residence. 40
• Chief stewardess Chen Yun — Appointed by Shen Gongbao to oversee the residence's maids. 40
• Recruitment duty — Di Xin assigned Shen Gongbao to recruit powerful experts for Great Shang, a responsibility he continued to fulfill during the war with Great Zhou. 30 56 76 87

Relationships

• Di Xin — Human Emperor and patron who appoints Shen Gongbao as Imperial Preceptor, gives him a residence, and permits him to remain in Chaoge after his expulsion. Di Xin privately treats the appointment as a powerless post meant to avoid provoking Yuanshi Tianzun. 29 30 39
• Jiang Shang (Ziya) — Former fellow disciple and enduring rival. Shen Gongbao resents Ziya's designated role in the Investiture of the Gods and is accused of repeatedly obstructing his work. Their feud resurfaces when they meet as opposing participants at Sishui Pass. 30 73
• Yuanshi Tianzun — Former master. Yuanshi expels Shen Gongbao, erases his Elucidation Sect arts, and orders the Twelve Golden Immortals not to aid him. Yuanshi also authorizes them to kill Shen Gongbao should he again disrupt Jiang Shang's Investiture mission. 30 31
• Antarctic Immortal — Senior brother who captures Shen Gongbao under Yuanshi Tianzun's decree and returns him to Jade Void Palace for judgment. He later confronts Shen Gongbao at Sishui Pass. 30 73
• Wen Zhong — Great Shang's Grand Tutor, Golden Spirit Holy Mother's eldest disciple, and Shen Gongbao's new eldest senior brother. Wen brings him to Jade Wanderer Palace, and Shen Gongbao pledges to obey his orders. Shen Gongbao subsequently supports Wen's defense of Sishui Pass and recruits Interception Sect reinforcements for him. 36 56 58 73 76 87
• Golden Spirit Holy Mother — Shen Gongbao's new master in the Interception Sect. She accepts him as her fourth disciple, requires him to assist and support Wen Zhong, and keeps him at Jade Wanderer Palace for cultivation instruction. 58
• Tongtian Sage — Former martial uncle from Shen Gongbao's Jade Void days and Patriarch of the Interception Sect. Tongtian refuses to accept Shen Gongbao personally but authorizes him to become a disciple of one of the four direct disciples. 35 36 58
• Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island — Wang Mo, Yang Sen, Gao Youqian, and Li Xingba sympathize with Shen Gongbao's account but cannot personally take him to Jade Wanderer Palace. Shen Gongbao later recruits them to reinforce Sishui Pass. 35 36 87
• Zhao Gongming — Interception Sect outer-sect senior brother whom Shen Gongbao invites to support Wen Zhong and Great Shang at Sishui Pass. 73 75
• Ten Heavenly Lords — Interception Sect cultivators whom Shen Gongbao brings, alongside the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island, to strengthen Sishui Pass. 87

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival at Chaoge

Shen Gongbao enters Chaoge as an Elucidation Sect disciple and gains the title of Imperial Preceptor from Di Xin. The appointment places him inside Great Shang while Di Xin's ministers remain suspicious of his Jade Void Palace origins. 29

Expulsion from Jade Void Palace

His rivalry with Jiang Shang brings Yuanshi Tianzun's punishment. Antarctic Immortal captures him, Yuanshi strips away his sect techniques, and Shen Gongbao is expelled while retaining his cultivation. Yuanshi subsequently forbids the Twelve Golden Immortals from assisting him and authorizes them to kill him if he obstructs Jiang Shang's mission again. 30 31

Search for Interception Sect Support

Unable to remain with the Elucidation Sect, Shen Gongbao visits Nine Dragons Island and attempts to reach Tongtian Sage through the Interception Sect. He learns that Wen Zhong is his potential route to Jade Wanderer Palace. 35 36

Return to Great Shang

Shen Gongbao returns to Chaoge and reports his expulsion to Di Xin. With Wen Zhong unavailable, he settles into the completed State Preceptor's Residence and waits for another opportunity. 39 40

Entry into the Interception Sect

After Wen Zhong agrees to escort him to Golden Turtle Island, Shen Gongbao seeks Tongtian Sage's protection and acceptance. Tongtian refuses to take him as a direct disciple, but Golden Spirit Holy Mother accepts him as her fourth disciple after Wen Zhong speaks on his behalf. Shen Gongbao remains at Jade Wanderer Palace to cultivate under his new master. 56 58

Defense of Sishui Pass

Shen Gongbao returns to Great Shang at Golden Spirit Holy Mother's direction and brings Zhao Gongming to reinforce Wen Zhong during the Battle of Sishui Pass. He declares that, as Great Shang's State Preceptor and Wen Zhong's junior brother, he cannot watch Sishui Pass fall. 73 75

After the battle's initial stage, Wen Zhong orders Shen Gongbao to find Interception Sect formation experts to restore Sishui Pass's formation. Shen Gongbao answers by bringing the Four Sages of Nine Dragons Island and the Ten Heavenly Lords to the pass as reinforcements. 76 87

Notable Quotes

“Fine! I will make every last one of you regret this!” 30

“If this place won't keep me, another place surely will.” 31