Zhu Yingxiong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhu Yingxiong (诸英雄)
Alias(es)	Yuan Zhen (Shaolin Dharma name); Little Nine (Yingui Sect designation) 1 13
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shaolin Temple's Dharma Hall; Yingui Sect (embedded agent, later its Young Master) 1 43
Occupation/Role	Shaolin monk; undercover Yingui Sect agent; personal disciple of Xie Guangran 1 43
Status	Alive 49
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture — initial success	2	Uses his information-display ability to comprehend and begin practicing the scripture, developing innate qi. 2 3
Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture — mastery	6	Publicly recognized by Worryless after winning the Dharma Hall minor trial. 6
Cultivation doubled	8	Refines a Little Rejuvenation Pill through an overnight session of Muscle-Tendon Transformation cultivation. 8
Ten Forms of No-Thought — Fourth Realm	17	Reaches the fourth realm, “Reflection,” in a single meditation session. 17 19
One-Finger Zen — demonstrated mastery	19	Uses finger force and Reflection to neutralize Yuan Cheng’s attacks and seal his movement routes before he can act. 19
Foot meridians and Heel Vessels opened	28	Opens the meridians governing leg techniques and lightness skills, strengthening his movement foundation. 28
River-tempered body and meridians	35	While unconscious in the Luo River, his two types of true qi repair and further temper his injured meridians with water essence. 35
Purple Blood Art — beginner stage	42	Has begun cultivating the demonic art; its blood-colored qi has already developed unusual devouring properties. 33 35 42
Illusory Demon Movement Technique — First Form	44	Fuses the incomplete technique with Shadow-Following Leg to deduce and learn “Shifting Forms, Changing Shadows.” 44
Prajna Zen Palm — mastery	46	Masters the palm art while training to integrate multiple supreme techniques. 46
Illusory Demon Movement Technique — 90% complete	46	Continues nighttime demonic cultivation until the movement technique is nearly complete. 46

Background

Zhu Yingxiong was an ordinary corporate worker in another world. After collapsing before his screen, his soul transmigrated into the body of Yuan Zhen, a Shaolin monk whose forced attempts to cultivate the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture had damaged his meridians and led to his death. 1

The original Yuan Zhen had been raised by the Yingui Sect and planted in Shaolin Temple roughly ten years earlier to steal the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture and the lost Marrow-Cleansing Scripture. He had hoped to use Shaolin’s divine art to free himself from the demonic sect’s control; Zhu instead inherits both the identity and its dangers. 1

Appearance

Zhu Yingxiong is a young, handsome monk most often seen in moon-white or blue-gray Shaolin robes. His composed bearing and unusually calm eyes are repeatedly noted by allies and rivals alike. 17 35 49

• Clear, deep-set eyes that usually appear detached and unreadable. 2 36
• A calm, restrained presence that makes him seem more like an eminent monk than an ordinary young disciple. 17
• Wears black clothing when acting outside his public Shaolin identity at night. 45

Personality

Zhu Yingxiong is exceptionally composed. Mockery from fellow monks does not provoke him, partly because his former life taught him to endure pressure and hostility without outward reaction. 1 He prefers observation and preparation to impulsive confrontation, as shown when he identifies Yuan Cheng’s technical limitation, detects infiltrators within Shaolin, and waits for opponents to expose themselves. 6 12 14

His caution does not make him indifferent to suffering. He initially refuses Gu Zixian’s unexplained plea for help, but intervenes once he sees the Four Fiends attempting to abduct her. He is similarly moved to act after learning that the Plainclothes Sect mutilates children for forced begging. 30 31 40

Against confirmed threats, Zhu can be merciless. He sees through Lan Chan’er’s deception, interrogates her, and kills her rather than risk leaving an enemy behind. 12 This pragmatism extends to his double life: he accepts the Yingui Sect’s power while intending to preserve his standing as a righteous Shaolin disciple. 43 45

Abilities & Skills

Information-Display Ability

Zhu possesses a “golden finger” that manifests information in empty space, analyzes martial manuals, and assists him in deducing incomplete techniques. 2 44

• Rapidly comprehends and practices the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture. 2
• Records and analyzes martial arts manuals in the Scripture Repository. 10 16
• Identifies compatible arts and fuses them to reconstruct incomplete techniques. 44
• Its deductions can fail when source material is too incomplete. 44

Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture

Shaolin’s supreme internal art is Zhu’s core cultivation method. It produces pure innate true qi, strengthens his body and meridians, and provides the foundation for his many martial arts. 6 8

• Makes basic techniques such as Black Tiger Strikes the Heart powerful enough to overwhelm stronger opponents. 4 5
• Resists Lan Chan’er’s seduction and essence-harvesting arts. 11
• Strengthens his meridians enough to survive exchanges with Tan Yingshou’s overwhelming acquired true qi. 34
• Works in parallel with the Purple Blood Art without immediate internal conflict. 33 35
• Its innate qi is initially too shallow to directly match a Black List expert with decades of accumulated inner strength. 34

Ten Forms of No-Thought

A heart-cultivation method created by Wuxiang Monk. Zhu reaches its fourth realm, “Reflection,” almost immediately. 17

• Reflects surrounding qi flow and hostile intent through a clear “heart-mirror.” 19
• Lets him anticipate attacks and counter later while arriving first. 19
• Enters a state of “Contemplation” to perceive Tan Yingshou’s movements and circulating energy in detail. 34

Finger Arts

Zhu’s principal offensive specialty is finger force, combining deep internal energy, acupoint knowledge, and predictive perception.

• Iron Finger Meditation Force — Defeats Yuan Xing from a distance and breaks his confidence without inflicting severe physical injury. 5
• One-Finger Zen — Neutralizes ranged finger force, seals movement routes, kills Wu Ji, and can contend briefly with Tan Yingshou’s palm force. 19 32 34
• Sword Fingers — Uses joined fingers as a silent killing strike; kills a Yingui Sect mole in his meditation room. 15

Movement and Leg Techniques

Zhu specializes in leg techniques and lightness skills after opening his foot meridians. 28

• Shadow-Following Leg — Allows near-traceless movement across snow and forms the basis of his later movement art. 18
• Shadowless Kick — Used against the Four Fiends of Ten Evils Manor. 31
• Illusory Demon Movement Technique — A demonic supreme movement art deduced from fragments and fused with Shadow-Following Leg. 44
  • Shifting Forms, Changing Shadows — Its first form; lets him evade Li Jie’s Seventeen Ghost-Prison Slashes with seemingly impossible midair movement. 44 45

Palm, Fist, and Sword Arts

Zhu studies broadly rather than relying on a single discipline.

• Prajna Zen Palm — Uses All Phenomena Are Empty to reflect Tan Yingshou’s force and create an escape opening; later masters the art. 34 46
• Seven Fists — Defeats Chen Tong and breaks through his Iron Palm Eagle Claw in fewer than ten exchanges. 48 49
• Great Illumination Fist — Has entered the discipline of Shaolin’s foremost fist art but remains far from its highest realm. 47
• Dharma Swordplay — A Chan-inspired sword art with 108 forms. Zhu learns it under pressure and uses Gu Zixian’s sword to defeat four underworld experts with one strike each and drive Tan Yingshou into retreat. 38 39
  • Sustained use leaves him severely exhausted; his victory over Tan depends partly on frightening the enemy into retreat before his strength fails. 39

Purple Blood Art

A dangerous demonic cultivation art granted by Deng Yin as a reward for delivering the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture. 13

• Cultivated alongside the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture. 33 45
• Its blood-colored qi devours and refines ownerless foreign true qi left in Zhu’s body by Tan Yingshou. 35
• Possesses a trace of innate nature due to its interaction with the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture, distinguishing it from the Purple Blood Art cultivated by earlier Yingui Sect members. 35

Miscellaneous Agama Skill

An auxiliary cultivation method that helps Zhu harmonize multiple martial arts rather than allowing their principles to conflict. 17 46

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Handwritten Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture — The manuscript central to both his Shaolin cultivation and Yingui Sect mission; he later provides a replacement copy to Xie Guangran after an earlier copy is ruined in the Luo River. 13 42
• Gu Zixian’s longsword — Used to perform Dharma Swordplay; Gu Zixian permits him to keep it after the battle with Tan Yingshou. 38 39
• Judge mask — Purchased in Luoyang for an undisclosed nighttime purpose. 49
• Fuchan Salve — Healing medicine given by Worryless; treats both external wounds and internal injuries. 2 28

Relationships

• Worryless Chan Master — His Shaolin master and head of the Dharma Hall. Worryless heals, disciplines, and ultimately recognizes Zhu’s mastery of the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture. 2 6 27
• Yuan Cheng — Senior brother, friendly rival, and confidant. He sincerely encourages Zhu, concedes the Dharma Hall final after recognizing Zhu’s tactical insight, and continues sparring with him to measure their progress. 3 6 19
• Yuan Hui — Prajna Hall champion and respectful rival. Their relationship develops from cautious reserve into open competition during Shaolin’s year-end tournament. 10 17 23
• Yuan Xing — Hostile fellow monk who repeatedly tries to humiliate Zhu; Zhu defeats him with a single finger strike and breaks his fighting spirit. 1 5
• Deng Yin — Yingui Sect elder, former handler, and later adviser. He rewards Zhu with the Purple Blood Art and supports him as Young Master. 12 13 46
• Xie Guangran — Dying leader of the Yingui Sect. He names Zhu his personal disciple and appoints him Young Master to serve as the sect’s successor. 42 43
• Gu Zixian — Princess of Dual Cultivation Manor. Their initial distrust becomes mutual protection and reliance while fleeing Tan Yingshou; she lends Zhu her sword and later leaves it with him. 31 36 39
• Tan Yingshou — Master of Ten Evils Manor and ninth-ranked Black List expert. He nearly kills Zhu on Luo River Bridge but is later forced to flee from Zhu’s Dharma Swordplay. 34 39
• Pure Affinity — Young Shaolin novice who openly admires Zhu and regards him as a martial uncle. 23 27 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shaolin Prodigy

After inheriting Yuan Zhen’s injured body and covert Yingui Sect identity, Zhu heals himself, masters the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture, and wins the Dharma Hall minor trial. His victories over Yuan Hong and Yuan Xing replace his former reputation as a failed cultivator with recognition as a rising Shaolin prodigy. 1 4 6

Hidden Agents in Shaolin

While studying in the Scripture Repository, Zhu receives a secret Yingui Sect summons and discovers that other agents have infiltrated Shaolin. He exposes Lan Chan’er as a Destiny Sect spy, kills her, then lures out and eliminates another planted agent searching his room. 10 15

Shaolin Champion and Seed Expert

Zhu expands his arsenal through the Scripture Repository, develops One-Finger Zen and Shadow-Following Leg, and wins Shaolin’s year-end martial tournament. After opening his foot meridians, he is selected as a seed expert to represent Shaolin in the Eight Sects Alliance and gain experience in the jianghu. 17 19 27 29

Entry into the Jianghu

On his journey toward Luoyang, Zhu aids Gu Zixian against the Four Fiends of Ten Evils Manor, killing Wu Ji and defeating the remaining attackers. Tan Yingshou later ambushes him, forcing Zhu into the Luo River; the river’s essence heals and strengthens him. 31 35

Battle with Ten Evils Manor

Still pursued by Tan Yingshou, Zhu learns Dharma Swordplay on the spot at a ruined mountain god temple. He defeats four Black List-level underworld figures with one strike each, then uses Zen-infused swordsmanship to drive Tan Yingshou away despite exhaustion. 37 39

Young Master of the Yingui Sect

In Luoyang, Zhu reunites with Deng Yin and meets Xie Guangran, who appoints him the Yingui Sect’s Young Master. Zhu commits to a double life: publicly remaining a Shaolin monk while secretly rebuilding the demonic Sacred Gate’s influence. 41 46

Conflict with the Plainclothes Sect

After discovering the Plainclothes Sect’s mutilation and exploitation of children, Zhu selects it as his first target as Yingui Young Master. He publicly challenges and decisively defeats Sect Master Chen Tong, then acquires a Judge mask for his next move. 40 46 49

Notable Quotes

“Believe it or not, I never regarded you as an opponent.” 5

“Let's begin with this one.” 46

“Those who mutilate children for begging deserve death by a thousand cuts.” 40