Zhao Jie

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Jie (赵界)
Alias(es)	Master Zhao; Iron Hand Zhao 3 6
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy — head and master 3 6
Occupation/Role	Transforming Energy Grand Martial Master; martial-arts teacher 3 33
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Zhao Jie is the master of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy in Ershui City. A Transforming Energy master of the Great Tablet Shattering Hand, he is known as Iron Hand Zhao; his realm allows him to establish and lead a martial school. 3

During unrest caused by rebellion, invasion fears, and demonic activity, Zhao Jie initially halts recruitment to focus on producing capable disciples. After Lin Shu's death and worsening instability, he resumes recruitment on a far larger scale, taking in nearly one hundred new disciples and expanding the academy grounds. 9 14

He accepts Wang Sheng as his eighty-seventh official disciple after Wang enters the Martial Path, awarding him ten taels of silver and two Blood Replenishing Pills. Although Zhao Jie had intended to concentrate resources on the more talented Lin Shu, Wang Sheng's insistence on competing for his share compels Zhao Jie to follow academy rules and provide monthly resources. 6 7

Personality

Zhao Jie is highly conscious of prestige and public perception. He prefers arrangements that preserve the appearance of fairness, even when he privately favors talented disciples such as Lin Shu. Wang Sheng recognizes this trait and successfully uses it to secure his rightful resources. 6 7

He values practical talent and results over internal disputes. Though angered when Wang Sheng severely injures Meng Xu, Zhao Jie reduces the punishment to a warning after seeing Wang's potential, then assigns Meng Xu's duties to Wang. 11

His authority can become harsh and violent when challenged. When Lin Shan disobeys his order to assemble during the academy's dissolution, Zhao Jie cripples Lin Shan's martial arts and expels him before the assembled disciples. 38 39

Abilities & Skills

Transforming Energy

Zhao Jie is a Transforming Energy Grand Martial Master, placing him above Bright and Dark Energy martial artists. His presence and released energy can physically oppress others. 3 33

• His exhaled airflow briefly condenses like a small dragon after practice, displaying his mastery of Transforming Energy. 33
• He can seize an opponent from a distance with a vortex-like pulling force and suppress them with substantial energy. 39
• He can cripple martial arts through targeted strikes, as demonstrated against Lin Shan. 39

Great Tablet Shattering Hand

Zhao Jie is a master of the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy's signature art, the Great Tablet Shattering Hand. 2 3

• He is reputed to have uprooted a large tree barehanded and defeated dozens of bandits in a single move without injury. 2
• He personally instructs Wang Sheng in the technique after accepting him as a disciple. 7
• His academy's disciples primarily cultivate the art as their route into the Martial Path. 2 10

Academy Leadership

Zhao Jie manages recruitment, discipleship, resources, discipline, and the academy's external standing. 6 9 14

• He grants official disciples monthly silver and Blood Replenishing Pills under the academy's normal rules. 7
• He recruits and presents talented disciples to wealthy patrons for nominal positions and financial support. 11 17
• He leads academy disciples against forces identified as part of the Demonic Cult during the chaos in Ershui City. 39 40
• He represents the academy in negotiations and martial contests over the spoils taken from the Divine Incense Cult. 44 45

Relationships

• Wang Sheng — disciple. Zhao Jie accepts him despite his low-grade physique, provides resources and instruction, and later takes pride in Wang's victories; however, he considers Wang's physique a limit on his future potential. 6 7 25 43 46
• Lin Shu — formerly favored disciple with top-tier roots. Zhao Jie intended to focus academy resources on advancing Lin Shu quickly before his death. 6 13
• Zhao Feipeng — son and second senior brother within the academy. His serious injury by a Dark Energy master raises questions over the inheritance of Zhao Jie's Dark Energy cultivation method. 2 42
• Lady Liang — Zhao Jie's second wife. She assists in receiving disciples and delivers the Dark Energy cultivation method to Wang Sheng on Zhao Jie's order. 6 33
• Cheng Yuan — head of Cangshan Martial Academy and longtime rival. Their rivalry drives the academy-versus-academy disciple matches at the yamen. 45 46
• He Xiangjun — city governor and fellow Great Martial Master. Zhao Jie wagers Wang Sheng's physique against him and wins the Eight-Line Body Tempering Breathing Technique. 47
• Lin Shan — disciple expelled and crippled by Zhao Jie for failing to obey the assembly order. 39

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wang Sheng's Admission

Zhao Jie confirms Wang Sheng's initiation into the Martial Path, makes him the academy's eighty-seventh official disciple, and formalizes their master-disciple relationship. He ultimately grants Wang monthly resources after Wang refuses to surrender them to Lin Shu. 6 7

Expansion During Unrest

Following Lin Shu's death, Zhao Jie seeks to strengthen the academy amid regional turmoil. He recruits nearly a hundred new disciples, expands the academy courtyard, and later merges operations with the Qingshui Martial Academy. 14 24

Demonic Cult Crisis

As Ershui City descends into chaos, Zhao Jie dissolves the academy's normal structure and orders all disciples to prepare for battle. He leads them in the hunt for alleged Demonic Cult members, including the siege of Qingfeng Inn and the confrontation with Old Man Lone Star. 38 39 40

Division of Spoils Competition

Zhao Jie participates in the six-faction contest to divide Divine Incense Cult properties. His rivalry with Cheng Yuan escalates after the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy performs poorly, but Wang Sheng's killing of Xu Zhuo restores Zhao Jie's pride and standing. 44 45 46

Notable Quotes

“Anyone from Southern Ridge Prefecture will be killed!” 40

“Wang Sheng, do you dare to accept?” 46

Trivia

• Zhao Jie has no recognized direct disciple other than his son, Zhao Feipeng. 35
• He repeatedly places importance on maintaining the academy's reputation and his own public standing. 6 18 42
• Despite recognizing Wang Sheng's exceptional comprehension, he dismisses the possibility of Wang reaching Transforming Energy because of Wang's presumed low-grade physique. 43 45