Zhang Jin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Jin (张晋)
Alias(es)	Elder Zhang; Martial Uncle Zhang
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cloudpiercing Sect; Fire Vajra Court; Stewardship Office
Occupation/Role	Cloudpiercing Sect elder; Stewardship Office elder; expedition leader
Status	Alive; Early Vajra-Force Realm
First Appearance	Chapter 110

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Late Elixir-Embracing Realm	111	Uses Wind-Vajra True Qi to halt a moving carriage and intimidate lower-realm martial artists at Withered Cloud Stronghold’s mountain pass.
Peak Late Elixir-Embracing Realm	153	Tests Cheng Heng with Thunder-Gang True Qi; his released qi forms a lightning-like crescent hand-blade.
Elixir-Embracing Peak	164	Prepares for a high-risk breakthrough in the Earthcore Lava Cavern after years of accumulation; estimates his chance of success at roughly sixty percent.
Early Vajra-Force Realm	175, 179	Emerges from three months of seclusion having broken through. He can release condensed azure Vajra Force and establish a protective force domain around his body.
Early Vajra-Force Realm, battle-tested	188, 191, 192	Fights the veteran Mid Inner Vajra expert Yu Cang for hundreds of exchanges. His still-unstable foundation and smaller reserves leave him wounded and nearly exhausted, but he survives and helps defeat Yu Cang.

Appearance

Zhang Jin is a robust man, initially described as appearing around thirty, with an imposing martial bearing befitting a Cloudpiercing Sect elder 110.

• Wears elder robes while handling Stewardship Office affairs, where he maintains a stern and formal demeanor 117.
• Appears in fitted black martial attire when preparing for secluded cultivation 164.
• After reaching Vajra Force, wears a gray daoist robe and carries a restrained yet immense aura of azure Vajra energy 178 179.
• His expression often carries an indistinct smile when he is calculating an advantage 111.
• Returns from the fight with Yu Cang pale and wounded, with an unsteady aura after expending much of his true qi 191 192.

Personality

Zhang Jin is shrewd, opportunistic, and highly skilled at extracting profit without openly overstepping. During the Withered Cloud Stronghold operation, he avoids the dangerous scramble for loot and instead blocks the mountain pass, forcing departing factions to pay “tokens of appreciation” rather than risk an inspection of their stolen goods 111.

He tempers greed with restraint. Cheng Heng notes that Zhang Jin makes his targets feel the loss but does not push them into desperate retaliation, allowing him to profit while preserving the appearance of sect authority 112.

Despite his transactional habits, Zhang Jin consistently favors and guides Cheng Heng. He recognizes Cheng Heng’s hidden strength early, sells him useful trump cards on credit, arranges discounts at the sect treasury, and encourages him to pursue the Fire Vajra Court’s chief-disciple position 112 117 133. After his Vajra-Force breakthrough, he becomes more openly proud and ambitious, particularly when promoting Cheng Heng as Cloudpiercing Sect’s future pillar 179.

His protection of Cheng Heng goes beyond profitable patronage. When two veteran Vajra-Force experts ambush them, Zhang Jin chooses to hold off Yu Cang so Cheng Heng can escape, continuing to fight even after suffering wounds and nearly exhausting his cultivation 187 191. Cheng Heng’s return and their subsequent cooperation lead Zhang Jin to regard him as a fellow powerhouse rather than simply a junior in need of protection 192.

Abilities & Skills

Vajra Force

After decades of cultivation and a three-month seclusion, Zhang Jin enters the Vajra-Force Realm, greatly raising his status and combat capability within Cloudpiercing Sect 175 179.

• Releases condensed azure Vajra Force from his body 179.
• Forms a protective force domain that Elixir-Embracing martial artists cannot imitate 179.
• His breakthrough strengthens the Fire Vajra Court and gives ordinary disciples access to a rare Vajra-Force Dao lecture 175.
• Turns his azure Vajra Force into wind blades and combines it with powerful fist strikes when confronting Yu Cang 188.
• Holds out against Yu Cang for hundreds of exchanges, though the veteran Mid Inner Vajra expert’s greater reserves and endurance eventually wear down his protection 191.

Wind-Vajra True Qi

Before his breakthrough, Zhang Jin uses Wind-Vajra True Qi with refined control during the Withered Cloud Stronghold expedition 111.

• Stops a speeding carriage and restrains its horses from a distance 111.
• Projects his voice with intimidating force while demanding an inspection 111.
• Uses his Late Elixir-Embracing cultivation to compel weaker forces into surrendering portions of their loot 111.

Thunder-Gang True Qi

Zhang Jin possesses powerful Thunder-Gang True Qi, which he demonstrates during a spar with Cheng Heng 153.

• Condenses lightning-infused true qi into a crescent-shaped hand-blade 153.
• Forces Cheng Heng back three steps with a single exchange 153.
• His deep, vigorous Thunder-Gang True Qi remains a benchmark Cheng Heng openly acknowledges 153.

Spear Combat

Zhang Jin fights effectively with a spear during the battle against Mahayana Evil Cult members 116.

• Kills Early Elixir-Embracing cultists with single spear thrusts 116.
• Arrives as reinforcements after Cheng Heng signals his position and helps reverse a collapsing battlefield 116.

Strategy and Administration

As a Stewardship Office elder, Zhang Jin combines sect authority, commercial instinct, and tactical judgment 110 112.

• Leads the Cloudpiercing Sect contingent during the Withered Cloud Stronghold expedition 110.
• Delegates Cheng Heng to investigate an alternate escape route rather than leaving it unchecked 112.
• Personally reports the seven court chief disciples’ reactions to Sect Master Shi Songquan 139.
• Carries out Sect Master Shi’s instructions, including delivering authorization for Cheng Heng to access the Scripture Repository’s fourth floor 160.
• During Yu Cang’s ambush, directs Cheng Heng to separate from him so that Zhang Jin can occupy one attacker and give the younger disciple a chance to survive 187.

Equipment / Items

• Fire Thunderbolts — Vajra-Force weapons sold to Cheng Heng for 7,000 taels each; Zhang Jin permits repayment on credit and suggests Cheng Heng recover the cost by taxing escapees at the mountain pass 112.
• Spear — Used against Mahayana Evil Cult martial artists during the Withered Cloud Stronghold operation 116.
• Stewardship Office authority — His elder status allows him to oversee major sect affairs, organize chief disciples, and manage access to sect resources 117 138.
• Palm Thunderquake Seeds — Several dozen explosive weapons from his family’s valuable resources, designed to break Vajra Force defenses. He deploys them against Yu Cang, severely damaging the elder’s protection and meridians 192.
• Auction cultivation treasures — Acquires several items to assist cultivation and stabilize his newly attained realm during the Dengzhou auction 186.

Relationships

• Cheng Heng — A mentor-like senior and frequent collaborator. Zhang Jin recognizes Cheng Heng’s strength, profits from their dealings, grants him preferential treatment, and later brings him to Dengzhou Prefecture to broaden his experience 112 117 133 178. He risks his life to protect Cheng Heng from Yu Cang; after Cheng Heng returns to defend him and they defeat Yu Cang together, Zhang Jin comes to regard him as a peer in strength rather than merely a junior 187 191 192.
• Shi Songquan — Sect Master and superior. Zhang Jin reports directly to Shi Songquan on chief-disciple affairs and carries out his instructions concerning Cheng Heng 139 159 160. He and Cheng Heng report to Shi Songquan upon returning injured from Dengzhou 192.
• Hong Kuo — Longtime friend and Elder of the Dragon-Tiger Sect. The two traveled together in their youth before later serving their respective sects 179. Hong Kuo hosts Zhang Jin and Cheng Heng in Dengzhou, invites them to an auction, and personally sees them off when they depart 183 184 187.
• Lu Ding — Senior brother within the Fire Vajra Court lineage. Zhang Jin praises Lu Ding’s judgment after Cheng Heng becomes chief disciple 121.
• Yang Tianzhen — Fellow Fire Vajra Court member who relays news of Zhang Jin’s Vajra-Force breakthrough and summons Cheng Heng to meet him 178.
• Xiao Xian’ai — A gifted woman Zhang Jin loved in his youth. She later entered the Profound Truth Sect and rose far beyond his cultivation and standing; recalling her leaves him with quiet regret 183 184.
• Yu Cang — Yu Clan supreme elder who ambushes Zhang Jin and Cheng Heng to seize Cheng Heng’s Spirit Transformation Art. Zhang Jin fights him to protect Cheng Heng and later helps bring about Yu Cang’s defeat 187 188 191 192.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Withered Cloud Stronghold Expedition

Zhang Jin leads the Cloudpiercing Sect party to Withered Cloud Stronghold as the newly promoted Stewardship Office elder 110. Rather than joining the dangerous struggle over the stronghold’s spoils, he stations his group at the mountain pass and exploits the looters’ fear of inspection. His first major payoff comes from Pang Cheng of the Pang Clan Weapon Forge, who relinquishes five sacks of treasure worth roughly 30,000 taels 111.

He assigns Cheng Heng to guard an alternate mountain trail, sells him three Fire Thunderbolts on credit, and openly encourages him to earn repayment money from escaping cultivators 112. Later, he answers Cheng Heng’s signal during a Mahayana Evil Cult ambush and joins the battle with his spear, though the expedition ultimately suffers severe casualties under his overall command 116 117.

Fire Vajra Court Patronage

Zhang Jin becomes one of Cheng Heng’s strongest supporters inside Cloudpiercing Sect. He acknowledges that Cheng Heng’s apparent cultivation does not match his true combat power, encourages his rise, and confirms that no Fire Vajra Court disciple can rival him after he reaches Mid Elixir-Embracing 117 121.

He also provides practical favors: a treasury discount on the Mother-and-Child Linked Needles, delivery of Cheng Heng’s Superior Treasure Weapon, and access to resources reserved for chief disciples 133 153.

Sect Politics and the Strange Flame

As Stewardship Office elder, Zhang Jin gathers the seven court chief disciples on Sect Master Shi’s orders and distributes credentials granting them unrestricted access to cultivate beside the Strange Flame Essence in the Earthcore Lava Cavern 138. He later reports their reactions directly to Shi Songquan 139.

Vajra-Force Breakthrough and Dengzhou Visit

After years at the Elixir-Embracing Peak, Zhang Jin enters seclusion with sect resources and successfully breaks through to Early Vajra Force 164 175. He subsequently invites Cheng Heng to accompany him to the Dragon-Tiger Sect, intending to give him broader experience and opportunities to exchange martial insights with Dengzhou’s younger generation 178.

At the Dragon-Tiger Sect, Zhang Jin publicly reveals his breakthrough to Hong Kuo and proudly presents Cheng Heng as Cloudpiercing Sect’s greatest young prodigy. He approves Lu Zheng’s challenge to Cheng Heng, viewing the spar as a chance for Cheng Heng to prove himself beyond Qingchuan Prefecture 179.

Cheng Heng defeats Lu Zheng barehanded, vindicating Zhang Jin’s confidence. Hong Kuo then hosts them as honored guests. Over the banquet, the two old friends recall their youthful travels and Zhang Jin’s feelings for Xiao Xian’ai, whose later rise in the Profound Truth Sect places his own recent breakthrough in perspective 181 183 184. They attend a major Dengzhou auction at Hong Kuo’s invitation. Zhang Jin acquires cultivation treasures and supports Cheng Heng’s decision to remain a few more days to cultivate with his newly purchased Primordial Jade Marrow; he is astonished when Cheng Heng emerges with a transformed physical body 184 186.

Yu Clan Ambush

On the journey back to Cloudpiercing Sect, Yu Cang and the rogue cultivator Kang Yang ambush Zhang Jin and Cheng Heng for Cheng Heng’s Spirit Transformation Art. Recognizing that he cannot defeat both veteran Vajra-Force experts, Zhang Jin orders Cheng Heng to flee separately and takes on Yu Cang himself 187.

Zhang Jin attacks with azure Vajra Force and holds Yu Cang back through hundreds of exchanges. Yu Cang’s Mid Inner Vajra cultivation and greater endurance gradually leave Zhang Jin wounded, exhausted, and close to defeat 188 191. Cheng Heng returns after killing Kang Yang and takes over Zhang Jin’s defense. Given time to recover, Zhang Jin deploys dozens of Palm Thunderquake Seeds, breaking Yu Cang’s protective force and creating the opening for Cheng Heng to behead him. The two return to Cloudpiercing Sect and go directly to Sect Master Shi Songquan to report what happened 191 192.

Notable Quotes

“Everyone is scrambling up the mountain, while we sit here and wait to divide the wealth. That is what the wise do!” 111

“Among that bunch of disciples in Fire Vajra Court, you're the only one besides me who's worth looking at.” 117

“Don't even think about harming my sect's disciples!” 188