Burial Temple Ghost

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Burial Temple Ghost (土葬庙诡)
Alias(es)	Burial Temple Wraith; Shangzhi; Zhou Qian
Species/Race	Human-turned ghost
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xin Yang, under an enslavement contract
Occupation/Role	Xin Yang's contracted ghost, guide, and wraith tracker
Status	Active; cultivating toward the Calamity Anomaly rank 45
First Appearance	Chapter 31

Background / History

Shangzhi was originally a scholar named Zhou Qian. Two thousand years before meeting Xin Yang, he encountered a ghost while traveling to the county seat for the imperial examination. Three days after his death, he became a human-turned ghost while retaining his memories. 33 34

By the time Xin Yang entered the ruined temple, Shangzhi had become an eighth-rank Calamity Ghost bound to the temple and its clay idol. He repeatedly killed Xin Yang inside the temple, but Xin Yang revived each time and gained lifespan, Ghost Energy, and Ghost Energy Control rather than a ghost skill. 32

Xin Yang discovered that Shangzhi's clay idol was his weak point and threatened to defile or destroy it. Terrified, Shangzhi opened the temple exit and eventually revealed himself. 32

After initially rejecting Xin Yang's proposal of an enslavement contract, Shangzhi attempted to trap him again within the temple. Xin Yang activated Drought Demon Form, severely injured him, and forced him to agree. Xin Yang sealed the contract with his blood, gaining free control over Shangzhi's ghost source. 33

Following the contract, Shangzhi explained the distinctions among Otherworlders, native humans, primordial ghosts, and human-turned ghosts. He then taught Xin Yang the Basic Ghost-Energy Breathing Technique, becoming the first known witness to an Otherworlder successfully learning a cultivation technique. 34

Xin Yang named him Shangzhi and began using his ability to locate nearby wraiths during the newcomer assessment. Shangzhi was later stored inside Little Black Ball's ghostly space and returned with Xin Yang from Checkpoint 108. 35 36

Appearance

Shangzhi appears as a refined, weathered scholar rather than a monstrous apparition. He wears a faded blue long robe and is closely associated with his ruined burial temple. 32

• Simple, aged facial features. 32
• Faded blue scholar's robe. 32
• Initially conceals himself within dense black mist. 32
• His temple contains an altar and a clay idol representing himself; the idol is his weakness. 32

Personality

Before his subjugation, Shangzhi was cautious and defensive, preferring to hide in black mist and use the temple's confinement rather than confront Xin Yang directly. Xin Yang's repeated revivals convinced him that Xin Yang possessed an ability associated with extremely powerful ghosts, leaving him deeply afraid. 32

After becoming contracted, Shangzhi is deferential and formal, habitually addressing Xin Yang as “Lord” or “Master.” He proves knowledgeable, obedient, and increasingly devoted after Xin Yang rewards him with Ghost Energy Liquid. 33 34 45

Abilities & Skills

Black Mist and Temple Confinement

Shangzhi can fill the ruined temple with dense black mist, conceal himself within it, and prevent victims from leaving.

• The mist obscures vision throughout the temple. 31 32
• He can close the temple doors and trap targets inside. 33
• He can open a path through the mist and reveal the temple exit when he chooses. 32
• Xin Yang's Dream Origin could not affect him while he hid within the mist. 32

Ghost-Energy Attacks

Shangzhi can kill targets using blasts of ghost energy.

• Decapitated Xin Yang with ghost-energy attacks on multiple occasions. 32
• His attacks killed Xin Yang, but the revivals granted Xin Yang random rewards rather than Shangzhi's ghost skill. 32

Burial Temple Domain

The Burial Temple is both Shangzhi's ghostly item and ghost domain.

• The temple and its clay idol are directly tied to Shangzhi. 32 34
• The temple cannot shrink on its own. 34
• Little Black Ball can store both Shangzhi and the temple in its internal ghostly space. 34 36
• Damage or humiliation directed at the clay idol can force Shangzhi to comply. 32

Wraith Detection

Shangzhi can search for nearby wraiths.

• Helped Xin Yang locate wraiths during the Checkpoint 108 assessment. 35
• His tracking ability allowed Xin Yang to focus on quickly killing discovered wraiths rather than searching blindly. 35

Cultivation Knowledge

As a former native human and scholar, Shangzhi possesses knowledge of cultivation and the checkpoint world's history.

• Taught Xin Yang the Basic Ghost-Energy Breathing Technique. 34
• Explained that native humans cultivate techniques to resist ghosts, unlike Otherworlders who normally depend on internal ghosts. 34
• Knows that beings exceeding Disaster Ghost Rank Eight disappear from the checkpoint world under its world rule. 34

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Burial Temple — Shangzhi's ghostly item and ghost domain. 34
• Clay idol — representation of Shangzhi and the temple's critical weak point. 32

Relationships

• Xin Yang — Master under an enslavement contract; Xin Yang can freely control Shangzhi's ghost source. Their relationship develops from coercion and fear into growing loyalty after Xin Yang rewards him fairly. 33 45
• Little Black Ball — Xin Yang's companion ghost; stores Shangzhi and the Burial Temple within its ghostly space. 34 36
• Dreamsource Ghost — One of Xin Yang's companion ghosts and a fellow member of Xin Yang's group. 44

Story Role / Major Arcs

Checkpoint 108 Assessment

Shangzhi lures Xin Yang into his ruined temple through a path marked with yellow paper and traps him in black mist. After Xin Yang exploits the clay idol and survives three deaths, Shangzhi is forced into an enslavement contract. 31 32 33

Cultivation Discovery

Shangzhi reveals the nature of native humans and human-turned ghosts, then teaches Xin Yang the Basic Ghost-Energy Breathing Technique. Xin Yang's success overturns Shangzhi's belief that Otherworlders cannot cultivate. 34

Wraith Hunt and Return

Renamed Shangzhi, he helps Xin Yang find wraiths for the remainder of the assessment. He is subsequently stored in Little Black Ball before Xin Yang returns to Glory University. 35 36

Battle Academy Rewards

Xin Yang includes Shangzhi when sharing his freshman rewards and gives him Ghost Energy Liquid. Shangzhi accepts it with gratitude and vows to reach the Calamity Anomaly rank. 44 45

Trivia

• Shangzhi's courtesy name is Shangzhi, while his original name is Zhou Qian. 35
• He was Xin Yang's first successfully subdued ghost. 33
• Shangzhi initially believed Xin Yang to be a member of the Drought Demon Clan after seeing Drought Demon Form. 33