Zhang Liyan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Liyan (张立岩)
Alias(es)	Venerable Rock Mountain 71
Gender	Male
Affiliation	True Martial University 70 173
Occupation/Role	Vice Dean of the Martial Arts Academy; also addressed as Dean/Vice Principal 70 115 173
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 70

Background / History

Zhang Liyan rose through the military from an ordinary private, advancing through talent and personal achievement rather than family backing. He forged lasting friendships with fellow soldiers during this period. 112

His first wife died in the Void Battlefield. Following her sacrifice, Zhang became increasingly single-minded, later devoting himself to education and the affairs of True Martial University. 112

As an administrator, he is responsible for much of True Martial University's daily operation, while also periodically entering the Void Battlefield for work. 115

Appearance

Zhang Liyan is a towering, rugged man whose presence is compared to an iron tower. 71

• Stern, usually unsmiling expression. 164
• Rugged facial features that soften noticeably around students he values. 71
• Wears a specially made combat suit that provides full flame protection. 94
• His gaze alone can create an oppressive sense of pressure without releasing his aura. 173

Personality

Zhang is infamous within True Martial University for his fiery temper, unyielding conduct, and refusal to accommodate status or family background. He has directly expelled numerous students, and even powerful families avoid provoking him. 71 112

His harshness is tempered by a strong sense of responsibility toward exceptional students. He reacts sharply when Su Bei's prolonged cultivation appears to endanger his health, personally seals off training areas for Su Bei's safety, and repeatedly provides resources, guidance, and institutional support. 70 71 164

Around Su Bei, Zhang's stern authority gives way to an unusually familiar, almost familial dynamic. He allows Su Bei considerable freedom in his office despite complaining about it, and he responds to Su Bei's frequent requests for rewards with reluctant indulgence. 103 115

Abilities & Skills

Legendary Martial Artist

Zhang is a Legendary Martial Artist, ranked among the stronger members of that realm. 71

• Can fly through the air and break the sound barrier while rushing to an emergency. 71
• Can use divine sense to survey a vast area, including an active volcano. 92 94
• Entered an active volcano and forcibly pushed through a fading Domain to rescue Su Bei. 94
• His presence was sufficient to make dissatisfied trainees immediately evacuate a sealed training ground. 71

Martial Arts Administration and Instruction

Zhang oversees the Martial Arts Academy and personally directs major university matters. 70 115

• Organizes high-level assessment procedures for Super-grade martial arts. 106
• Recognized the quality and potential of Su Bei's Storm Spear Technique before its formal evaluation. 106
• Arranged Su Bei's inclusion in True Martial University's National University Martial Arts League roster. 165
• Personally chaired the university team's competition briefing in Yujing. 173

Equipment / Items

• Flame-resistant combat suit — Specially made equipment providing complete protection against fire and lava conditions. 94
• Encrypted terminal — Used to coordinate university league schedules and communicate official information. 173

Relationships

• Su Bei — Mentor, administrator, and fiercely protective supporter. Zhang monitored Su Bei's prolonged enlightenment, protected his training environment, rescued him from an active volcano, supplied advancement resources, and treated his Super-grade martial-art creation as a major priority. 70 71 94 103 164
• Bai Yutang — Fellow high-level martial artist and Su Bei's appointed Guardian. Zhang strongly objected to Bai's appointment, believing Bai's violent reputation made him unsuitable for protecting Su Bei; Bai had also previously defeated Zhang when Zhang was younger. 96
• Yuan Chufeng — Old acquaintance and Legendary Martial Artist. Zhang traveled with him for Su Bei's Super-grade martial-art evaluation in Yujing. 106
• Yong Wenhou — Former military comrade and close friend. Their friendship dates back to their service years, and Yong knows of Zhang's late first wife. 112
• Elder Hai — Senior figure whom Zhang informs of Su Bei's entry into the Intent Realm. 72

Story Role / Major Arcs

Su Bei's Spear Enlightenment

When Su Bei remained in the training ground for twenty-seven days, Zhang condemned the staff for allowing the situation to continue unchecked. After learning Su Bei had progressed from Great Accomplishment to the Perfected Realm, he personally inspected the situation. 70

During Su Bei's later breakthrough into the Intent Realm, Zhang evacuated the training ground, arranged observers to watch over him, and rushed back when Su Bei's developing Storm Spear Intent created a tornado-like disturbance. 71

Shattered Battlefield Deployment

Although impressed by Su Bei's Intent Realm achievement, Zhang allowed him to depart on a dangerous Shattered Battlefield mission, believing that martial artists must face life-and-death danger rather than cultivate in excessive safety. 72

He later briefed Su Bei on four sealed Second-order Shattered Battlefields and emphasized the dangers posed by their Lord Star Beasts. 115

Active Volcano Rescue

When Su Bei became trapped inside an active volcano's Domain, Zhang organized civilian evacuation, entered the crater, broke into the Domain, and extracted Su Bei from the volcano. 94

Storm Spear Technique Evaluation

Zhang initially expected Su Bei's self-created spear technique to be High-grade, but became increasingly astonished while reading it. He judged Storm Spear Technique to be firmly within the Super-grade category and arranged its formal assessment at the Martial Department headquarters in Yujing. 106

National University Martial Arts League

Zhang used his authority to place Su Bei on True Martial University's league team, replacing an existing main player. 165

In Yujing, he led the team meeting, assigned Su Bei to the Intent Realm and Mountain Moving events, and pressed him to take the competition seriously for the university's standing. 173

Trivia

• Zhang's legendary reputation is feared enough that students would rather lose points before Elder Hai than attract his attention. 71
• He is notably generous with Su Bei's cultivation resources, including offering to prepare materials for Su Bei's fourth Spirit Aperture Gate. 164
• Despite his strict image, he visibly takes pride in Su Bei and calls him his most satisfying student in many years. 171