Red Cloud

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Red Cloud
Original Name	红云
Alias(es)	Patriarch Red Cloud 6
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Primordial great power and Daoist 6 9
Status	Deceased; his origin was shattered in his killing tribulation, but Taiqing preserved a wisp of his true spirit within the Taiji Diagram. 30 34
First Appearance	Contest for the Meditation Cushions 6

Background / History

Purple Cloud Palace

Red Cloud arrived at Purple Cloud Palace with extraordinary speed and claimed the fifth meditation cushion. He later yielded it out of sympathy for Receiving Guide and Zhunti, whose difficult journey from the West moved him. 6 8 9

His kindness created lasting consequences. Kunpeng believed that Red Cloud's surrender gave the Western Daoists an opening to force him from his own cushion, and began to hold Red Cloud responsible. Xuan Heng warned him to travel with companions and seek refuge at Five Villages Temple if necessary; Red Cloud accepted Zhenyuanzi's protection and invitation. 8 9

Hongjun later bestowed the final strand of Primordial Violet Qi upon Red Cloud, making him an even greater target for those seeking the foundation of sainthood. 21

Conflict over the Innate Gourd Vine

At Mount Imperfection, the fifth red gourd ripened in response to Red Cloud. Kunpeng attempted to seize it and attacked Red Cloud directly, but Zhenyuanzi intervened with the Earth Book. Red Cloud successfully claimed the treasure and drove Kunpeng back with its red sand, deepening their enmity. 13

Killing Tribulation and Death

Despite his association with Zhenyuanzi, Red Cloud was compelled out of Five Villages Temple by a Heavenly Dao killing tribulation. Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, and Kunpeng pursued him through chaos for his Primordial Violet Qi, while Receiving Guide and Zhunti later joined the assault under pressure from the Heavenly Dao. 28 29

Xuan Heng intervened and exhausted his treasures protecting him. Refusing to let Xuan Heng face six quasi-saints alone, Red Cloud transformed into crimson cloud-light and took the fatal attacks himself. His Primordial Violet Qi escaped into the void, while Taiqing recovered a final wisp of his true spirit with the Taiji Diagram. 30 31

Zhenyuanzi later received Red Cloud's Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd and was entrusted with the knowledge that Red Cloud's remaining true spirit would be returned only when heaven and earth gained a destination for departed souls. 34

Appearance

Red Cloud is a red-robed Daoist whose presence is accompanied by surging crimson cloud-light. His customary expression is warm and smiling, though his demeanor hardens when those close to him are threatened. 6 9 13

• Wears red Daoist robes. 6 28
• Travels amid crimson cloud-light. 6 28
• Possesses a smile remembered by Xuan Heng as “warm as a spring breeze.” 33
• His body could dissolve into a mass of crimson cloud-light. 30

Personality

Red Cloud is compassionate and generous, yielding his meditation cushion because he could not bear the hardships endured by the Western Daoists. He did not initially anticipate that this act would implicate Kunpeng or create a karmic debt for Receiving Guide. 8 9

He is not weak-willed. When Kunpeng attacked him over the red gourd, Red Cloud fought back, activated his treasure, and accepted Zhenyuanzi's support rather than surrendering what was fated to him. 13

His defining act is his final self-sacrifice. Although badly injured and clouded by tribulation aura, he recognized that Xuan Heng could not withstand the surrounding quasi-saints indefinitely and chose to shield him from the fatal attack. 30

Abilities & Skills

Cloud-Light Movement

Red Cloud can travel at high speed through crimson cloud-light and use that power to evade attacks.

• Claimed the fifth meditation cushion ahead of several competing great powers. 6
• Fled through chaos while pursued by Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, and Kunpeng. 28
• Transformed his body into crimson cloud-light to intercept attacks meant for Xuan Heng. 30

Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd

Red Cloud's red innate gourd releases destructive crimson sand and cloud-light.

• Obtained the fifth red gourd from the Innate Gourd Vine through affinity. 13
• Its red sand corroded Kunpeng's sleeve and forced him to retreat. 13
• He used it during his final battle to create crimson clouds that obstructed Kunpeng and Minghe. 30

Resistance to Tribulation Aura

Red Cloud retained moments of clarity even while affected by the Heavenly Dao's killing tribulation.

• The Calamity-Suppressing Gourd repeatedly restored part of his clarity during the siege. 28 29
• He recognized that the tribulation aura had drawn him away from Zhenyuanzi's protection. 30

Equipment / Treasures

• Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd — A crimson innate gourd acquired at Mount Imperfection; releases red sand and cloud-light. It was later given to Zhenyuanzi after Red Cloud's death. 13 30 34
• Primordial Violet Qi — The final strand granted by Hongjun. It became a principal cause of Red Cloud's killing tribulation and escaped into chaos after his death. 21 31

Relationships

• Zhenyuanzi — Closest companion and protector. Zhenyuanzi invited Red Cloud to stay at Five Villages Temple, fought beside him against Kunpeng, and later received his gourd and remaining true spirit. 9 13 34
• Xuan Heng — A benefactor and fellow Daoist who warned Red Cloud of Kunpeng's grudge, attempted to save him from his killing tribulation, and retained his gourd until returning it to Zhenyuanzi. Red Cloud ultimately sacrificed himself to protect Xuan Heng. 9 28 30 34
• Kunpeng — Mortal enemy. Kunpeng blamed Red Cloud for the loss of his meditation cushion, attacked him over the Innate Gourd Vine, and participated in the final ambush. 13 28 30
• Receiving Guide and Zhunti — Red Cloud yielded his seat to aid them, leaving Receiving Guide with a karmic debt. Both later moved against him during his killing tribulation under Heavenly Dao pressure. 8 29 31
• Taiqing — Preserved Red Cloud's final wisp of true spirit within the Taiji Diagram after his origin shattered. 30 34

Notable Quotes

“At the time, I merely saw that the two Fellow Daoists from the West had come with great difficulty, and my heart could not bear it.” 9

“Enough, Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng. With your current cultivation at the peak of Great Luo, if you continue forcibly opposing them for my sake, I fear neither of us will be able to leave today.” 30