Zhao Hong

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Hong (赵洪)
Alias(es)	Ah Hong
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Clear Creek Village; Eight Desolations Six Directions Hall; Judge's Office
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Judge's Office Copper Bell Guard
Status	Alive
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early Blood Refinement	5	Reached after Zhao Yang gives him powerful beast blood; his newly awakened blood qi is described as stronger than that of an ordinary Blood Refinement completion practitioner.
Middle Blood Refinement	9	Breaks through after seven days of punishing Stele-Splitting Hand training.
Blood Refinement Completion	16	Gains inner sight and perceives the dragon-and-tiger manifestations within his tendons and bones.
Internal Force	20	Refines the essence of a Blood Candle Snake's crest, producing exceptionally fierce internal force.
Late Internal Force	27	Reached after a month of cultivation and combat experience with Zhou Baishan.
Internal Force Completion	30	Breaks through using Ten-Refined Bloodforce Qi Pills and precious ginseng roots.
Blood Fiend stage	34	Breaks through while traveling with a merchant caravan; simultaneously brings Six Harmonies Saber Art and Stele-Splitting Hand to major mastery.
Mid-stage Blood Astral	43	His aura and foundation draw the attention of an unidentified lord beyond the Innate Realm.
Late Blood Aura	48	Advances after refining four bottles of tiger demon blood.
Blood Astral cultivation with Profound Embryo battle strength	49	Demonstrates combat power above his realm during a Judge's Office promotion assessment.

Background

Zhao Hong was an orphan from Clear Creek Village and had previously ranked near the bottom among the village youths in martial ability. After surviving an encounter with a demon rat, he endured two days of fever and nightmares before awakening both memories from a past life and the talent Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones. The awakening immediately transformed his physique; he could casually lift a stone stool he had previously struggled to move. 1

Zhang Tai's family sent him venison and deer blood under the pretext of an apology. Zhao Hong rapidly absorbed the nourishment, trained for hours without exhausting himself, and resolved to leave the confines of Clear Creek Village to pursue martial strength. 1 2

Zhao Yang's return to the village gave Zhao Hong access to advanced instruction. During Zhao Yang's Bone Kneading assessment, Zhao Hong concealed his unusual tolerance by pretending to be in pain, though Zhao Yang recognized that his physique was exceptional. Zhao Yang later tested him more deeply, supplied beast blood, and began treating him as a disciple as well as family. 3 5

Zhao Hong's early training included the Mountain-Leaning Stake, Eight-Step Exploding Fist, Cloak Blade, and Stele-Splitting Hand. He killed the demon rat that had nearly killed him, defeated an Internal Force practitioner while only at middle Blood Refinement, and later killed Wu Qingyu of the Cold Blade Sect through a combination of endurance, deception, and ruthless close-quarters combat. 6 8 13 14

After learning that Zhao Yang's Mystic Embryo had been shattered, Zhao Hong vowed to repay his mentor's kindness if he ever gained the power to do so. Zhao Yang directed him away from the prefectural city and toward the Judge's Office, where Zhao Hong could gain resources, status, and practical experience while avoiding immediate attention from Zhao Yang's enemies. 15 17

On the road, Zhao Hong defeated a late Internal Force spy, killed a wolfskin-wearing bandit after sacrificing the use of his right arm, refined a Blood Candle Snake to enter Internal Force, and tamed a White Tiger for transport. He was later deceived by Skinning Cult members posing as Judge's Office personnel, but overcame them and eventually met Zhou Baishan. 18 19 20 21 22 24

Zhou Baishan brought Zhao Hong into the Judge's Office, where he registered as a Copper Bell Guard. Zhao Hong cultivated rapidly, fought Evil Skin Cult members alongside Zhou, and became a central force during attacks on the Azure Cloud Mountains garrison. He received one distinguished merit for his contributions, while his performance brought him into conflict with the Yang Family. 31 36 37 47

Personality

Zhao Hong is ambitious, pragmatic, and unusually mature for his age due to the wisdom he retains from his past life. He does not take Zhang Tai's early bullying personally, recognizing both the insecurity behind it and the practical value of preserving relationships. 1 8

He possesses extreme tolerance for hardship. He continues Stele-Splitting Hand training despite tearing the skin from his hands, viewing suffering as the price of becoming strong. 9

Although ruthless toward enemies, Zhao Hong is not indiscriminately cruel. He kills the wolfskin bandit after promising to end the man's unbearable suffering, and he chooses to face a powerful Evil Skin Cult attacker alone so his fellow guards can escape. 19 37

Zhao Hong is also cautious when circumstances demand it. After sensing an observer in the mountains, he ends his pursuit rather than risk entering a trap. 16

Abilities & Skills

Dragon Tendon and Tiger Bones

Zhao Hong's innate talent accumulates Dragon-Tiger Divine Strength and is associated with cultivating Haoran Qi. It gives him extraordinary physical growth, recovery, nourishment absorption, and combat power. 1 2

• His tendons and bones endure Zhao Yang's Bone Kneading pressure and can resist or counter the force applied to them. 5
• At Blood Refinement completion, he gains inner sight and observes dragon-and-tiger outlines surrounding his tendons and bones. 16
• His internal force is described as savage, violent, hard, and fierce after entering the Internal Force realm. 20
• The talent allows him to contend with opponents above his cultivation realm, including Blood Astral and Profound Embryo-level enemies. 22 49

Stele-Splitting Hand

A destructive hand art taught by Zhao Yang after Zhao Hong hesitates while facing a demon rat. It trains the hands through repeated impacts against stone and can direct force inward rather than merely damaging the surface. 8 9

• Zhao Hong trains by smashing stone blocks using only the strength of his flesh and bones. 9
• He uses it to defeat Wang Meng despite the technique not yet reaching beginner level. 12
• The art reaches minor mastery during his month with Zhou Baishan and major mastery during his Blood Fiend breakthrough. 27 34
• Yang Erhe recognizes the technique as an Eight Desolations Six Directions Hall art, exposing Zhao Hong's connection to the hall. 45

Mighty Vajra Finger

A finger technique taught by Zhao Yang during Zhao Hong's two months of intensive cultivation. 16

• Reaches minor mastery before Zhao Hong's confrontation with the Evil Skin Cult leader. 27
• Zhao Hong uses it to strike at the gray-robed Evil Skin Cultist's heart during their decisive battle. 28

Cloud-Breaking Flash

A movement technique that Zhao Hong initially finds difficult because of its complexity. 16

• Reaches beginner level during his battle with the Skinning Cult's young leader. 22
• Reaches minor mastery after Zhao Hong gains extensive combat experience alongside Zhou Baishan. 27
• Allows him to rapidly close distance and combine his movement with blade intent and close-range attacks. 37

Saber Arts

Zhao Hong trains in several saber methods and develops notable saber momentum.

• Cloak Blade — Reaches beginner level during his early village training. 6
• Six Harmonies Saber Art — Learned from Zhao Yang; reaches minor mastery by the time of Zhou Baishan's ambush and major mastery during Zhao Hong's Blood Fiend breakthrough. 16 27 34
• Demon-Subduing Saber Art — Taught to him by Sun Tao, though Zhao Hong does not immediately practice it. 33
• Zhao Hong's saber momentum and blade intent become significant elements of his combat style. 34 37

Eight-Step Exploding Fist

A foundational fist art learned from Zhao Yang.

• Reaches minor success shortly after Zhao Yang's Bone Kneading test. 6
• Enhances Zhao Hong's speed and enables him to defeat a middle-stage Internal Force practitioner while still at middle Blood Refinement. 13

Embracing Origin Dragon-Tiger Seal

A cultivation method Zhao Hong selects because its dragon-and-tiger focus aligns with his innate talent. 50

• Zhao Hong exchanges merits for the method and three Mystic Embryo martial artists' cultivation records. 50
• He considers it suitable for strengthening his Mystic Embryo in the future. 50
• As of his selection, he has not yet entered the Mystic Embryo Realm. 50

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black-Iron Ink Saber — A sharp black-iron saber given by Zhao Yang for protection after Zhao Hong leaves Clear Creek Village. 17
• Copper Bell and Judge's Office token — Issued upon his registration as a Copper Bell Guard; the bell can identify nearby legitimate guards through its refining method. 31 33
• Storage pouch — Taken from the gray-robed Evil Skin Cultist along with cultivation pills, ginseng roots, and other resources. 29
• Poison-needle cylinder — A concealed weapon given to him by Zhou Baishan before the Evil Skin Cult ambush. 27
• Zhang Gucheng's wooden token — A personal token from the golden-robed inspector, allowing Zhao Hong to seek him out for a future assignment. 47
• White Tiger / “Big White” — A White Tiger Zhao Hong subdues and uses as a mount during his journey toward the Judge's Office. 20 21

Relationships

• Zhao Yang — Zhao Hong's older relative, mentor, and senior brother in the Eight Desolations Six Directions Hall lineage. Zhao Yang recognizes his potential, provides resources and martial instruction, and arranges his entry into the Judge's Office. Zhao Hong vows to repay his kindness. 5 15 17
• Zhang Tai — Former village bully and rival. Their relationship improves after Zhao Hong defeats the demon rat and acknowledges Zhang Tai's willingness to protect others. 1 8
• Zhou Baishan — Judge's Office ally who guides Zhao Hong to the organization, fights beside him against the Evil Skin Cult, and gives him cultivation resources and practical support. 24 29 30
• Liu Zheng — Zhao Hong's Judge's Office superior in the Clawfang Mountain region. He registers and guides Zhao Hong within the organization, later recognizing his extraordinary combat ability. 31 32 36
• Sun Tao — Fellow Copper Bell Guard who teaches Zhao Hong the Demon-Subduing Saber Art and offers practical advice about Judge's Office work. 33 37
• Lu Hong — Eagle Soaring Martial Academy's senior disciple and Zhao Yang's longtime rival. He tests Zhao Hong through a sparring match before selling him medicinal paste, then realizes Zhao Hong's exceptional strength. 10 11 13
• Hu Yingying — Zhao Hong's Third Senior Sister and an Innate Realm Judge's Office inspector. Zhao Hong learns of her existence after his Eight Desolations Six Directions Hall connection is exposed. 46
• Yang Family — A powerful prefectural clan tied to the people responsible for Zhao Yang's fate. Zhao Hong becomes their enemy after refusing Yang Erhe's demand to alter testimony and resolves to grow stronger before seeking revenge. 45 46
• Zhang Gucheng — Golden-robed inspector who awards Zhao Hong recognition and gives him a token for possible future cooperation. 47