Rongbao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Rongbao (荣保)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Dao Temple
Occupation/Role	Huang Bai's disciple; temple keeper; talisman practitioner
Status	Alive; cultivating the Green-Haired, Gaunt-Boned Form, Pangu Corpse Path 169
First Appearance	Chapter 53

Power Progression

Stage	Development	Details
Temple apprentice	Entered Huang Bai's service	Began as an obedient hired hand responsible for Heavenly Dao Temple's labor while learning Chinese characters and becoming accustomed to its ghost-soldier guardians. 53 54
Talisman practitioner	Received a ritual register	Inherited a ritual register through Old Foreigner's lineage and spent decades drawing and carrying talismans, though he lacked practical experience against ghosts. 75 82
Aid-Seeking Incense helper	Fought across worlds	Answered Huang Bai's Aid-Seeking Incense summons as a golden-light projection, using Sun Talismans and the Five-Element Formation Disc against the Demon Children and Ghost Mountain God. 82 83 84
Pangu Corpse Path cultivator	Acquired the Green-Haired, Gaunt-Boned Form	Consumed refined Pangu Corpse Lichen and the Pangu Immortality Pill, creating a controlled symbiosis that extended his lifespan while leaving him dependent on lead-mercury pills and Sun Talismans. 168 169
Ongoing cultivation	Explores further transformations	Huang Bai instructed him to continue studying the Pangu Corpse Path, which may produce additional divine abilities or transformations if its balance remains stable. 169

Background

Rongbao was the son of Rong Yi, a household head living at the foot of Bottle Mountain. When Huang Bai discovered the household's extraordinary rooster, Rong Yi asked that Rongbao be allowed to follow him and learn useful skills rather than accept payment. Huang Bai accepted him as an obedient hired hand, and Rongbao left that night carrying the rooster's coop behind his new master. 53

At the newly established Heavenly Dao Temple, Rongbao handled its daily labor: cleaning the grounds, fetching water, receiving worshippers, and maintaining the temple. He also studied Chinese characters and received occasional guidance from the ghost soldier Spirit Pearl. Though initially terrified of the temple's ghostly guardians, he gradually became accustomed to Yaksha and the other spirit soldiers. 54 56

Huang Bai considered Rongbao unsuited to independently transmit the Huang Bai Talisman Lineage because of his limited aptitude and halting literacy. Before entering seclusion at Bottle Mountain, Huang Bai instead entrusted the lineage register and talisman teachings to Partridge Whistle, asking that a literate temple master be chosen. 61

Story Role

Keeper of Heavenly Dao Temple

Rongbao remained at Heavenly Dao Temple after Huang Bai's disappearance. During the twelve years following Huang Bai's seclusion, he raised Old Foreigner and Hualing's son, Jin, after the couple left to seek Partridge Whistle. When Huang Bai returned without having visibly aged, Rongbao recognized him at once as the benefactor who had changed his life. 62

Decades later, Rongbao was still guarding the temple as an elderly man. He provided Shirley Yang's group with the map to Yunnan Worm Valley, but sharply rejected the idea that Huang Bai's belongings were an inheritance to be claimed while their owner still lived. 68

When Huang Bai returned after sixty years, Rongbao broke down in tears, having waited through an entire lifetime for another meeting. He continued to serve as Huang Bai's local representative, using old ties with Miao revolutionary veterans and mining-company personnel to arrange military transport, supplies, and artillery support for the Worm Valley expedition. 69

Rongbao remained outside Worm Valley because of his age, coordinating with the flight crew and ground forces while Huang Bai's party entered the tomb. Before they descended, he asked Hu Bayi to locate Jin Wantang and bring him back to inherit Heavenly Dao Temple. 70

Summoning Across Worlds

Huang Bai later summoned Rongbao with Aid-Seeking Incense to assist against the Demon Children and Ghost Mountain God. Rongbao's projected form arrived in golden light and fought beside Huang Bai, Lin Meihua, and A-Kai. 82

During the battle, Rongbao used Sun Talismans and operated the Five-Element Formation Disc. He activated its Earth formation to mire the Demon Children in mud, then its Wood formation to bind their soul bodies with vines. He subsequently linked the Earth, Wood, and Fire formations, strengthening the Fire formation's attack against the Demon Children and Ghost Mountain God. The strain twisted and severed his projected right arm, but injuries sustained through Aid-Seeking Incense did not transfer to his original body. 83 84

Pursuit of Longevity

In old age, Rongbao remained devoted to Huang Bai but was physically failing and expected to die soon. When Huang Bai returned to Bottle Mountain, Rongbao insisted on meeting him despite his frailty. 164 165

Huang Bai offered him a chance at extended life through dangerous immortality experiments. Rongbao accepted without hesitation, trusting his master with his life and death. 165

Huang Bai ultimately gave him a refined strand of Pangu Corpse Lichen and the Pangu Immortality Pill, establishing a balance between the parasitic lichen and pill poison within his body. Rongbao survived the procedure, becoming gaunt and pale with sickly green hair and beard while retaining his clear mind. 168

Before departing, Huang Bai instructed Rongbao to continue exploring the Green-Haired, Gaunt-Boned Form, but warned him to take a lead-mercury pill every three months and immediately use a Sun Talisman if the Corpse Lichen began to stir. 169

Appearance

Rongbao first appeared as a dark-skinned youth from a Miao village. He later aged into a white-haired, frail elder who relied on a cane, before his Pangu Corpse Path cultivation altered his body. 53 68 165 168

• As a youth, he wore practical village clothing and worked constantly around Heavenly Dao Temple. 54
• In old age, he wore a faded Daoist robe, with white beard and hair, deep wrinkles, and a weakened body. 164
• After taking the Pangu Immortality Pill, his hair and beard became sickly green; his skin turned nearly bloodless and his body became notably more gaunt. 168
• Despite his altered appearance, his eyes remained clear, showing that the Corpse Lichen had not consumed his consciousness. 168 169

Personality

Rongbao is deeply loyal, reverent, and patient. He spent decades maintaining Heavenly Dao Temple and waiting for Huang Bai's return, treating his master as a living figure rather than a legend or a source of inheritance. 68 69

He is also practical and protective of his community. When Chen Yulou's armed party asked for directions, Rongbao led them only to Bottle Mountain's outskirts because he feared refusal could endanger the village. In later life, he warned would-be explorers not to drag local people into the mountain's dangers. 55 68

Despite his age, Rongbao retains an enthusiastic desire to act as a true Daoist. His first battle against ghosts exhilarated him; he had spent more than seventy years hoping for a chance to subdue evil with the talismans he carried. 82 83

Rongbao is also resolute in the face of pain and death. Though Huang Bai openly explained that the Pangu Corpse Path could turn him into a mindless walking corpse if it failed, he accepted the experiment because he trusted his master and wished to continue being of use to him. 165 168

Abilities & Skills

Talisman Arts

Rongbao inherited a ritual register from Old Foreigner and practiced talisman drawing over many years. 82

• Uses Sun Talismans against yin entities and Demon Children. 83
• Carried talismans for decades in anticipation of encountering genuine ghosts. 82
• Considered his lack of real demon-slaying experience a personal regret despite long practice. 75
• Can use Sun Talismans to suppress unrest caused by the Pangu Corpse Lichen within his own body. 169

Five-Element Formation Disc

During the battle with Ghost Mountain God, Rongbao operated the Five-Element Formation Disc after catching it from Huang Bai. 83

• Earth formation — turned the ground muddy, slowing the Demon Children. 83
• Wood formation — created vines that restrained the Demon Children's soul bodies and bound the Ghost Mountain God. 83
• Fire formation — was activated after the Earth and Wood formations, allowing the linked formations to produce greater power than the Fire formation alone. 83
• Limit — operating the disc severely strained his body and twisted his right arm; the projected arm was severed during the battle. 83 84

Aid-Seeking Incense Projection

Rongbao can answer Huang Bai's summons through Aid-Seeking Incense because of his goodwill and cultivation level. 82 84

• Arrives in another world as a golden-light projection. 82
• Can fight and use his talismans and ritual implements while summoned. 83
• Damage or death to the projected form returns him to his original body without injuring it. 84
• His summoning duration was limited to roughly half an hour. 83
• The incense can only summon helpers who bear Huang Bai goodwill and whose cultivation does not greatly exceed his own. 84

Green-Haired, Gaunt-Boned Form, Pangu Corpse Path

Huang Bai taught Rongbao this external-pill longevity method after refining the Pangu Immortality Pill. 168

• Establishes a symbiosis between Rongbao's body, Pangu Corpse Lichen, and lead-mercury pill poison. 168
• Can extend his lifespan by at least several decades; Huang Bai estimated twenty additional years would be easy to sustain, and potentially fifty with a stable balance. 168
• Requires a lead-mercury pill every three months and Sun Talismans to suppress any unrest from the Corpse Lichen. 169
• Carries the risk of unbearable pain, loss of consciousness, and transformation into a walking corpse if the balance fails. 168 169
• May eventually develop new divine abilities or bodily transformations, though none have yet manifested. 169

Equipment

• Sun Talismans — offensive talismans used against Demon Children and suppressive talismans used against Corpse Lichen unrest. 83 169
• Five-Element Formation Disc — Huang Bai's formation artifact, which Rongbao operated to slow, bind, and burn yin entities. 83
• Ritual register — inherited through Old Foreigner's lineage, allowing Rongbao to practice talisman arts. 82
• Dragon-headed cane — used in his advanced age and retained after beginning Pangu Corpse Path cultivation. 165 169
• Lead-mercury pills — maintenance pills required to preserve the balance between Rongbao and the Pangu Corpse Lichen. 168 169

Relationships

• Huang Bai — Master and benefactor. Rongbao followed him from youth, guarded Heavenly Dao Temple through decades of separation, answered his summons across worlds, and accepted his longevity experiments without hesitation. 53 69 82 168
• Rong Yi — Father. Rong Yi offered Rongbao to Huang Bai so that his son could learn skills and gain a better future. 53
• Old Foreigner and Hualing — Fellow disciples or lineage associates; Rongbao raised their son Jin after they left to search for Partridge Whistle. 62
• Jin Yang / Little Jin — Adoptive charge. Rongbao raised him from childhood and discouraged him from entering Bottle Mountain. 62
• Jin Wantang — Prospective successor to Heavenly Dao Temple. Rongbao asked Hu Bayi to find Jin Wantang and bring him back to inherit the temple. 70
• Chen Yulou — Old friend and companion in later life. They shared tea at Bottle Mountain, and Chen Yulou witnessed Rongbao's response to Huang Bai's return and summoning. 82 164 165
• Hu Bayi, Shirley Yang, and Wang Pangzi — Visitors whom Rongbao aided with the Worm Valley map and expedition logistics; he remained wary of their attempt to enter Bottle Mountain. 68 69
• Lin Meihua and A-Kai — Allies during the battle against Ghost Mountain God and the Demon Children. 82 83

Notable Quotes

“If a Daoist doesn't catch ghosts, can he still be called a Daoist?” 82

“Master Patriarch is back!” 164