Hongjun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hongjun (鸿钧)
Alias(es)	Dao Ancestor Hongjun; Heavenly Dao Hongjun 32 469
Species/Race	Chaos God/Demon 27
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Dao; Purple Cloud Palace 136 192
Occupation/Role	Dao Ancestor; spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao; lecturer and master of the Heavenly Dao Saints 32 192
Status	Active 512
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal	32	Attains the Dao, causing a Primordial-wide heavenly phenomenon and proclaiming himself Dao Ancestor.
Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal	33	Reaches this realm through a deal with the Heavenly Dao, becoming the strongest being in the Primordial World.
Sixth Rank Primordial Chaos Great Luo Golden Immortal	45	Releases this cultivation while pressuring the disciples of Azure Lotus Island into acknowledging him as master.
Ninth-Rank Dao Integration Realm (temporary)	130	Borrows a year of power from the Heavenly Dao to seal Houtu and suppress the Earthly Dao's awakening.
Merger with the Heavenly Dao	136	Agrees to let the Heavenly Dao use his body in exchange for eternal coexistence, declaring that Hongjun is the Heavenly Dao while the Heavenly Dao is not Hongjun.

Background

Hongjun was one of the three thousand Chaos Gods and Demons before the opening of Heaven and Earth. He was regarded as a middling-to-lower-ranked Chaos being who survived Pangu's heaven-opening only by fleeing far enough. His experiences in Chaos are cited as the source of his desire to prevent the Primordial World from producing cultivators strong enough to threaten his authority. 27

After Chen Xuan took form, Hongjun introduced himself as a fellow Daoist and presented him with the Twelve-Rank Golden Lotus of Merit as a congratulatory gift. 3 He later recruited Chen Xuan for the campaign against Rahu, privately expecting Chen Xuan to die at Mount Sumeru so that Chen Xuan's treasures would eventually fall into his hands. 9

Hongjun joined Yin-Yang Ancestor, Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor, and Yang Mei Ancestor in confronting Rahu's Immortal-Slaying Formation. He defended himself with the Pangu Banner and Fortune Jade Disk, then survived Rahu's self-destruction. 10 11 Afterward, he briefly considered killing Yang Mei Ancestor, fearing that surviving Chaos beings would become obstacles to his control of the Primordial World. 11

Personality

Hongjun is ambitious, possessive of authority, and deeply concerned with preventing rivals from surpassing him. He seeks a Primordial World in which the path to higher cultivation is tightly controlled, using the Three Corpses Severing Method and sainthood to replace the cultivation paths that could produce independent Primordial Golden Immortals or stronger beings. 27

He is calculating rather than consistently confrontational. He offers treasures, merit, Primordial Violet Qi, and cultivation guidance when they further his plans, but resorts to coercion when persuasion fails. His attempt to force the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and others to accept him as master exemplifies this shift from recruitment to open intimidation. 43 45 46

Hongjun is also cautious about his own survival. He fled Rahu's self-destruction before ensuring his allies' safety, hid within the Heavenly Dao when expecting Chen Xuan's retaliation, and later merged with the Heavenly Dao partly to avoid being permanently killed or sealed by Chen Xuan. 11 102 136 192

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Dao Authority

As the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson, Hongjun can wield its authority, oversee the Primordial World's fate, and act through its will. 192 469

• Can invoke heavenly punishment and manifest the Eye of Heavenly Punishment against those who defy him. 47 179
• Can use the Heavenly Dao to restore injuries and reconstruct Purple Cloud Palace. 101 102
• Cannot be permanently killed unless the Heavenly Dao itself is slain; after death, he can be reborn through the Heavenly Dao. 192
• Remains vulnerable to being sealed when his cultivation falls too far behind Chen Xuan's. 192

Dao Integration and Heavenly Dao Merger

Hongjun negotiated directly with the Heavenly Dao for temporary Dao Integration Realm cultivation to interfere with Houtu's transformation into the Six Paths of Reincarnation. 128 130

• Temporarily reached the ninth rank of the Dao Integration Realm for one year. 130
• Formally merged with the Heavenly Dao on the condition that their consciousnesses coexist forever. 136
• The Heavenly Dao may use his body to conduct matters belonging to Heaven, though Hongjun seeks to preserve his own consciousness and autonomy. 33 119

Three Corpses Severing Method

Hongjun created and disseminated the Three Corpses Severing Method, a shortcut in which cultivators use innate spiritual treasures to house their good, evil, and self corpses before combining them to become Saints. 27

• Uses three corpse avatars in battle; he deployed them to seize all four gates of the Immortal-Slaying Formation simultaneously. 46
• Promotes the method as a route to sainthood for his followers. 46 50
• The method is portrayed as part of his effort to limit the Primordial World's independent cultivation potential. 27

Dao Teaching and Manipulation

Hongjun's lectures at Purple Cloud Palace dramatically advance the cultivation of the fated cultivators who attend them. 42 50

• Uses Primordial Violet Qi as both an inducement to sainthood and a means of binding disciples to his authority. 43 100
• Grants Heavenly Dao merit to accelerate disciples' breakthroughs when it serves his balance of power. 81 106
• Can forcibly raise others to Saint-level cultivation, as seen when he elevated Maitreya and Randeng during the Investiture of the Gods conflict. 464

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Fortune Jade Disk — Contains the three thousand Heavenly Dao laws; Hongjun uses it for law comprehension, protection, healing, and empowering disciples. 10 20 79 81
• Pangu Banner — Used to block the Immortal-Slaying Sword's light and unleash Chaos Gales. 10 182
• Heavenly Dao Horsetail Whisk — A law-infused whisk whose strands contain the three thousand laws recorded in the Fortune Jade Disk. 47 79
• All-Heavens Auspicious Cloud — A defensive treasure that was shattered by Chen Xuan during their first battle in Chaos. 47
• Heavenly Dao Eye / Dharma Eye — Used to observe Azure Lotus Island, inspect the Primordial World, and exercise heavenly authority. 45 179

Relationships

• Chen Xuan / Green Lotus Daoist — Principal rival. Hongjun initially approached him as a fellow Daoist and temporary ally against Rahu, but later repeatedly attempted to control, suppress, or eliminate Chen Xuan and his disciples. 3 9 46 192
• Heavenly Dao — Coexisting partner and source of his authority. Hongjun bargains with and resists the Heavenly Dao, ultimately merging with it while insisting that his consciousness not be erased. 119 128 136
• Yang Mei Ancestor — Fellow surviving Chaos being and political threat. Hongjun considered killing Yang Mei after Rahu's defeat, while Yang Mei later aided Chen Xuan against Hongjun. 11 134
• Yin-Yang Ancestor and Heaven-and-Earth Ancestor — Former allies against Rahu whom Hongjun left behind during Rahu's self-destruction. 10 11
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Personal disciples and founders of the Western Religion. Hongjun compensated them for the West's destruction with treasures and Primordial Violet Qi, then pushed them toward sainthood. 43 109
• Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi — Disciples and Demon Race leaders whom Hongjun repeatedly protects, grants merit, and guides toward sainthood. 57 81 106
• Demon Master Kunpeng — Disciple whom Hongjun heals, advances, and manipulates with the Grandmist Purple Aura and the Heavenly Dao Devouring Law. 81 120 192
• Dongwanggong — Registered disciple and appointed leader of the male immortals; Hongjun supplied him with same-lineage treasures to house the Three Corpses. 43 45
• Three Pure Ones and Nuwa — Targets of Hongjun's recruitment who repeatedly reject him in favor of Chen Xuan. He attempts to entice and later force them into becoming his disciples. 38 43 45 46
• Houtu — Major adversary whose transformation into the Six Paths and merger with the Earthly Dao Hongjun tries to prevent or redirect. 128 130 217 218
• Calamity and Destruction — Chaos allies recruited to help awaken the Buddhist and Yao paths and draw more Chaos beings into the Primordial World. 468

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dao–Devil Conflict

Hongjun organizes the alliance against Rahu and enters Mount Sumeru's Immortal-Slaying Formation with three Chaos ancestors. Rahu's self-destruction destroys much of the West's spiritual veins, leaving Hongjun entangled in the resulting karma. 10 11

Rise as Dao Ancestor

After attaining the Dao, Hongjun proclaims himself Dao Ancestor and summons qualified cultivators to Purple Cloud Palace for a three-thousand-year lecture. He distributes teachings, treasures, and Primordial Violet Qi to establish a hierarchy of Saints and followers under his influence. 32 43 50

Conflict with Azure Lotus Island

Hongjun seeks to claim the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Houtu, and Fuxi as disciples, breaking the Immortal-Slaying Formation when they resist. Chen Xuan intervenes, beginning a long-running struggle between Hongjun's Heavenly Dao order and Azure Lotus Island. 45 46 47

Manipulation of the Witch–Demon Calamity

Hongjun supports the Demon Race to maintain its balance against the Witch Race, helping Dijun attain sainthood through the creation of Demon Script and cultivating Kunpeng as a future Demon Race leader. 106 192 He accelerates the gathering of calamity aura to push the Witch and Demon Races into war, intending to seize their fortune for himself. 193

Merger with the Dao

After failing to prevent Houtu's Six Paths of Reincarnation from being established, Hongjun accepts the Heavenly Dao's terms and merges with it. He publicly presents the act as a sacrifice for the completion of the Primordial World's Heaven and Earth. 130 136

Opposition to the Earthly and Human Paths

Hongjun attempts to prevent the Earthly Dao's awakening by appointing Zhen Yuanzi as its spokesperson, but Houtu successfully merges with the Earth Dao instead. 217 218 He also opposes the Human Race's independence, unleashing heavenly tribulation after humans tear down Heavenly Dao Temples and overturn his statues. 179

Investiture of the Gods

Hongjun convenes the Heavenly Dao and Azure Lotus Island Sages to set limits on the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, forbidding direct intervention by the Heavenly Court and Nine Netherworld. 260 Later, desperate to defeat Chen Xuan, he allies with Beast Emperor Shenni and seeks support from Chaos beings. 411 468

Notable Quotes

“I am Dao Ancestor Hongjun. I have now attained the Dao of Primordial Zenith. Having perceived myself, I bear the duty of enlightening the living beings of the Primordial World.” 32

“All beneath Saints are ants.” 46

“Hongjun is the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao is not Hongjun. Unless it concerns the great trend of the world, Hongjun will not act.” 136

“What I seek are the pleas of the living beings of the Primordial World when they are helpless.” 468