Zhao Zongyang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhao Zongyang (赵宗洋)
Alias(es)	President Zhao; Principal Zhao; “Old Zhao” 42 270
Species/Race	Human 43
Gender	Male 258
Affiliation	Sichuan First Martial University; human martial forces 258 279
Occupation/Role	Principal of Sichuan First Martial University; captain of the City-Breaking Operation vanguard 258 279
First Appearance	Chapter 42 (statue at Sichuan First Martial University; freshman address) 42

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Martial Apprentice → Martial Master	116	Publicly recorded as completing all nine temperings and reaching Martial Master in five months. 116
Martial Master → Martial Ancestor	116	Reached Martial Ancestor two years after becoming a Martial Master. 116
Ninth-Rank Martial Ancestor	272, 275	Held ninth-rank Martial Ancestor strength while serving as university president and observing the Heavenly Prodigy Rankings selection. 272 275
Half-Step Martial King	258, 345	Revealed this realm while pursuing a ninth-rank Martial Ancestor; later described as naturally breaking through from the ninth rank on the eve of the university battle. 258 345

Background / History

Zhao Zongyang became principal of Sichuan First Martial University and was sufficiently renowned that one of the university gate statues was modeled after him. His personal cultivation history was made public as an example to students, emphasizing his unusually rapid rise through the martial ranks. 42 116

At the freshmen’s opening assembly, Zhao revealed the existence of the Otherworld and its invasion threat. He framed martial artists as humanity’s defenders, stressing that greater strength carried greater responsibility toward family, homeland, and humanity’s survival. 42 43

He later selected Wang Tianyu and Deng Yihuan for Sichuan First Martial University’s two Heavenly Prodigy Rankings recommendation slots. To protect the school’s chances of gaining its first successful selection, he ordered the two rivals to suspend their conflict until the assessment concluded. 183

Personality

Zhao is direct, disciplined, and notably unpretentious. Both his office and Vanguard City residence are described as sparsely furnished, reflecting a practical outlook rather than a desire for status or luxury. 275 324

As a commander, he prioritizes strategy and the preservation of capable personnel. He concealed himself during the Self-Strengthening Society attack to identify the enemy’s remaining strength, halted the costly frontal assault on Azure Cloud City, and negotiated with the Rising Sun Sect’s Second Elder to avoid an unnecessary large-scale clash. 258 294 316

He is uncompromising when human resources and lives are at stake. Zhao refused to surrender any of Sichuan First Martial University’s protected resources to the Self-Strengthening Society, then chose his colleagues’ survival over pursuing enemy half-step Martial Kings. 345 347

Abilities & Skills

High-Level Martial Cultivation

A half-step Martial King, Zhao possesses combat power far beyond ordinary Martial Ancestors.

• Severely injured a ninth-rank Martial Ancestor in their first exchange and forced him into self-destruction. 258 259
• Fought two veteran half-step Martial Kings simultaneously during the defense of Sichuan First Martial University. 346 347
• Killed both half-step Martial King opponents despite suffering serious injuries himself. 353

Swordsmanship

Zhao wields a longsword with exceptionally refined sword techniques.

• Produces sword radiance capable of tearing through the void and appearing around opponents from unpredictable directions. 346
• His close-range strikes can cut through ninth-grade weapons and defensive equipment. 346
• Drew a sword line across the ground to establish a boundary while leading human Martial Ancestors against Azure Cloud City. 314

Spiritual Power

Zhao has powerful and precise spiritual-power control.

• Can carry others in high-speed flight over long distances. 260 325
• Formed a Mental Barrier around a villa to contain the self-destruction of a ninth-rank Martial Ancestor. 259
• Endured severe backlash while maintaining the barrier until allied mental power reinforced it. 259

Command and Strategic Planning

Zhao serves as a senior organizer of humanity’s response to the Otherworld.

• Leads efforts to locate and delay the formation of new Otherworld passages, buying humanity time to prepare. 260
• Formed and personally commanded a 100-member vanguard for the City-Breaking Operation, appointing Wu Qiang and Hu Biao as vice-captains. 279
• Reassigned forces from a frontal assault to scattered strikes against important Otherworld strongholds after casualties mounted. 294
• Ordered Sichuan Province’s resources moved to Sichuan First Martial University to prevent the Self-Strengthening Society from seizing them. 324

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Divine longsword — A powerful longsword capable of shattering the void, suppressing opponents’ reactions, and destroying ninth-grade weapons and equipment. 345 346
• Medicinal pills — Consumed an entire bottle to reinforce his Mental Barrier against a ninth-rank Martial Ancestor’s self-destruction. 259

Relationships

• Wang Tianyu — Student and heavily supported junior. Zhao provides him with resources, assigns him dangerous opportunities, and trusts him with sensitive missions. 275 277 324
• Deng Yihuan — Student selected alongside Wang Tianyu for a Heavenly Prodigy Rankings recommendation slot; Zhao mediated her conflict with Wang Tianyu. 183 184
• Xu Guoqiang — Military collaborator during the City-Breaking Operation; Zhao led strategy while Xu presented intelligence on the Rising Sun Sect’s cities. 279
• Commander Wu — Superior military commander whom Zhao formally salutes and defers to at Vanguard City No. 8. 321
• Blade King — Supporter of Sichuan First Martial University’s bid for prestigious-school status; Zhao pledged not to waste the opportunity provided. 356
• Rising Sun Sect Second Elder — Otherworld adversary with whom Zhao negotiated during the human army’s withdrawal from Azure Cloud City. 315 316
• Self-Strengthening Society — Hostile organization that attacked Sichuan First Martial University to seize protected resources; Zhao led the defense against its forces. 324 345 353

Story Role / Major Arcs

Otherworld Revelation

Zhao introduces new students to the reality of the Otherworld invasion and the duty martial artists bear in defending humanity. His speech motivates the freshmen while establishing the stakes of their cultivation. 43

Heavenly Prodigy Rankings

He gives Wang Tianyu and Deng Yihuan access to recommendation slots, supplies each with sixth-grade equipment support, and encourages Wang Tianyu after his victories over elite students from the major prestigious universities. 183 184 270 274

City-Breaking Operation

Zhao organizes a 100-person vanguard to raid Rising Sun Sect cities while the Otherworld’s strongest combatants are absent. He later adapts the operation after the assault on Azure Cloud City becomes too costly. 279 294

Defense of Sichuan First Martial University

After learning that the Self-Strengthening Society intends to seize the City-Breaking Operation’s spoils, Zhao concentrates provincial resources at the university and personally leads its defense. He refuses surrender terms, breaks through to the half-step Martial King realm, and kills two enemy half-step Martial Kings. 324 345 353

Prestigious University Candidate

Zhao seeks to elevate Sichuan First Martial University into the nation’s fourth prestigious martial university. The school must retain its qualification, field at least three ninth-rank Martial Ancestors within a year, and defeat all challenges from non-prestigious schools. 356

Notable Quotes

“The stronger your ability, the heavier the responsibility on your shoulders. The stronger your ability, the greater your chances of surviving.” 43

“Therefore, we must step forward—for humanity's continuation, and for our own families and friends.” 43

“Today, if you want to take even a single Energy Stone, there is only one possibility. That is for me to die here in battle!” 345

Trivia

• A statue at Sichuan First Martial University’s gates is modeled after Zhao. 42
• He had not accepted students for a long time by the beginning of the story. 42
• Zhao openly acknowledged that Wang Tianyu’s talent at the same age exceeded his own. 272