Jing Hongchen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Jing Hongchen (镜红尘)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Virtue Hall; Sun Moon Empire
Occupation/Role	Hall Master of Virtue Hall; dean associated with Sun Moon Imperial Academy
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2
Family	Meng Hongchen (granddaughter); Xiao Hongchen (grandson)
Relative by Marriage	Xia Yu (grandson-in-law)

Background / History

Jing Hongchen leads Virtue Hall during a period of internal weakness. A past ambush by the Body Sect depleted the Hall’s capable personnel, cost it the Snow Empress Embryo, and nearly caused Jing Hongchen to lose control of the institution. Though Virtue Hall appears recovered externally, he regards its development as stagnant and his own position as insecure. 10 66

To strengthen both his family and Virtue Hall, Jing Hongchen agreed to arrange Meng Hongchen’s marriage to Xia Yu. He explains to Meng that the Sun Moon Empire faces instability over the imperial succession, while Xia Yu’s standing and potential offer the Red Dust Family an important political advantage. 2 10

The arrangement quickly benefits him: Xia Yu’s growing reputation and combat power help reverse Virtue Hall’s difficult position, allowing Jing Hongchen to obtain substantial advantages through mediation rather than relying on underhanded tournament measures. 41

Personality

Jing Hongchen is a politically pragmatic elder who treats Xia Yu’s marriage to Meng Hongchen as both a family decision and a means of securing Virtue Hall’s future. He is eager to bind Xia Yu to the Hall, but recognizes that coercion would be both impractical and dangerous given Xia Yu’s talent, strength, and connection to Kong Deming. 10 12

He is openly indulgent toward Meng Hongchen while still correcting her when necessary. His concern for her martial soul flaw persists for years, and he is deeply relieved when Xia Yu resolves it. 12 45

Despite his usual restraint as Hall Master, Jing Hongchen’s hatred of the Body Sect remains intense; witnessing their Body Martial Soul Second Awakening visibly rekindles his anger over their past assault on Virtue Hall. 66

Abilities & Skills

Rank-9 Soul Engineering

Jing Hongchen is an established Rank-9 Soul Engineer and oversees Virtue Hall’s advanced soul-tool research. 12 54

• Personally debugged and activated Virtue Hall’s dormant Martial Soul Fusion Enhancer for Xia Yu. 11
• Understands the broad theory behind martial soul origin resonance and initially hoped Xia Yu’s discovery could be adapted for other soul masters. 14
• Recognizes the strategic value of living metal, Icebound Divine Crystal, and Xia Yu’s proposed Spirit Forging Method. 45 55

Virtue Hall Leadership

As Hall Master, Jing Hongchen directs Virtue Hall’s research priorities, political dealings, and involvement in the Radiant City Tournament. 10 52

• Recruits talented soul engineers in an effort to restore Virtue Hall’s former prominence. 10 12
• Maintains limited, discreet dealings with the Holy Spirit Cult while remaining wary of its instability. 52
• Uses his authority and influence to manage tournament arrangements and protect the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy’s interests. 41 63

Equipment / Research Assets

• Martial Soul Fusion Enhancer — A half-finished Virtue Hall device that promotes resonance between martial soul origins; Jing Hongchen repaired and operated it for Xia Yu. 10 11
• Virtue Hall secret research area — Hosts projects involving spiritual metals, life-force extraction, soul extraction, and specialized soul tools formed from deathly or baleful energy. 10
• Soul tool laboratory — Jing Hongchen possesses a workshop, though it is described as less extensive than Kong Deming’s. 27

Relationships

• Meng Hongchen — His beloved granddaughter. He arranged her marriage to Xia Yu for political and familial reasons, spoils her readily, and worries over her future and safety. 2 12 45
• Xiao Hongchen — His grandson. Jing Hongchen reassures him during Meng Hongchen’s extended absence and discusses Virtue Hall’s tournament plans with him. 41 44
• Xia Yu — His grandson-in-law and Virtue Hall’s foremost recruitment target. Jing Hongchen supports Xia Yu’s research, sees him as the key to the Hall’s revival, and takes pride in his achievements. 10 12 14
• Kong Deming — Xia Yu’s teacher and the major obstacle to Jing Hongchen’s hope of bringing Xia Yu fully into Virtue Hall. 12
• Body Sect — A hostile faction responsible for Virtue Hall’s earlier losses; Jing Hongchen retains a fierce grudge against them. 10 66
• Xu Tianran — Discusses Xia Yu’s prospects and the Body Martial Soul Second Awakening with Jing Hongchen during the tournament. 65
• Zhongli Wu / Holy Spirit Cult — Maintains a cautious transactional relationship with the cult rather than a close alliance. 52 54

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arranging Meng Hongchen’s Marriage

Jing Hongchen informs Meng Hongchen of her arranged marriage to Xia Yu, framing the union as necessary amid the Sun Moon Empire’s unstable political climate. 2

Recruiting Xia Yu to Virtue Hall

He personally tours Xia Yu through Virtue Hall’s underground experimental base and offers him a nominal post. His efforts are driven by the Hall’s weakened condition and his belief that Xia Yu could restore its status. 10 12

Development of Two Extremes Divine Transformation

Jing Hongchen enables Xia Yu’s research by debugging the Martial Soul Fusion Enhancer. He observes Xia Yu’s eight-day experiment, safeguards the process, and later studies the completed Self-Martial-Soul Fusion Technique with him. 11 12 14

Extreme North Return and Meng Hongchen’s Evolution

After Xia Yu and Meng Hongchen return, Jing Hongchen is stunned to learn that Meng’s martial soul flaw has been resolved, her attribute has evolved to Ultimate Ice, and she has become a High-Rank Soul Sage. He later learns that an Ice Spirit exists within the Icebound Divine Crystal and becomes invested in its implications for soul-tool development. 44 45

Radiant City Tournament

Jing Hongchen supports Meng Hongchen’s use of tournament opponents to adapt to her newly gained strength. He also discusses Xia Yu’s attempt to study the Body Sect’s Second Awakening while Xia Yu serves as a referee. 52 65

Trivia

• Jing Hongchen refers to Xia Yu as the grandson-in-law he personally chose and considers him capable of becoming an Ultimate Douluo. 12
• He initially hoped Xia Yu’s Self-Martial-Soul Fusion Technique could be reproduced for other soul masters, but accepts that its requirement for exceptional spiritual perception makes it impractical to spread. 14
• Xia Yu’s proposal of Spirit Forging leaves Jing Hongchen so interested that he repeatedly presses Xia Yu to begin experimenting with it. 46 55