Deng Ziyang

Biodata

Name	Deng Ziyang (邓子洋)
Alias(es)	Demon Child
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Giant Tiger Gang (formerly); Six Doors (formerly); Blood Demon Sect / Everlife Sect
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; former Six Doors official; Blood Demon Sect Demon Child
Status	Alive; a peak First Rank martial artist as of his reunion with Chen Ming 300
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ninth Rank	13	Breaks through into the ranks of true martial artists after cultivating Huo Chengkun's stance technique; he is later confirmed to have departed on his journey as a Ninth Rank martial artist. 13 82
Seventh Rank	82	Returns after three months away, having risen from Ninth to Seventh Rank; he attributes the opportunity to being trapped in a mountain forest for two months. 82
Demon Child	117	After Chen Ming kills the previous Demon Child, the Blood Demon Sutra's blood bead selects Deng as its new host. He chooses to refine the corpse into a Human Pill for power. 117
Fourth Rank	191	Reaches Fourth Rank through demonic cultivation, though he recognizes that Chen Ming has still surpassed him by a vast margin. 191
Temporary Third Rank power	190	Activates the Blood God Pearl, using it to absorb Gao Chen's corpse and temporarily transform his gang qi into gang essence. 190
Third Rank	244	Appears among the Blood Demon Sect cultivators in the Mystic Realm as a genuine Third Rank martial artist. 244
Second Rank	245	Successfully advances to Second Rank while merging a Blood God Pearl into his brow. 245
First Rank, peak	300	Returns to Deng Manor as a peak First Rank martial artist, one step from the Divine Treasury Realm. 300

Background / History

Deng Ziyang was the illegitimate son of the Giant Tiger Gang's leader. His mother died after giving birth to him, and his father purchased Deng Manor for them; Deng later lived there with his followers rather than alone in its five courtyards. 9 11

He studied at Huo Manor for four years and became the Intermediate Class's strongest student, cultivating the Iron Horse Stance to its fifth level. Despite talent comparable to Wen Zehao's, Huo Chengkun kept him from the Advanced Class and never accepted him as a disciple, apparently to avoid deeper association with the disreputable Giant Tiger Gang. 9

Deng gathered a loyal circle of brothers at his manor, acting as their eldest brother and settling their disputes. He hired Chen Ming as their sparring partner, offering three Qi and Blood Pills per month for three daily matches; the arrangement improved his brothers while providing Chen with valuable experience. 11 12

Unable to accept a mediocre life or his father's refusal to teach him martial arts, Deng chose the military examinations as his route into Six Doors. After the examinations, he returned with Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian, and the three swore brotherhood with Chen Ming serving as witness. 17 21

His father's death and the internal struggle for leadership within the Giant Tiger Gang changed him. He became taciturn and obsessed with cultivation, then resigned from Six Doors after enduring hostility from a superior and openly rebuking him. He left Qingfeng City alone to seek his own path. 54 62

Appearance

Deng is initially described as a valiant young man with the bearing of an elder brother. After three months of wandering and cultivation, he returns nearly unrecognizable: dressed in green robes, stubbled, weathered, and rough-skinned, yet carrying restrained confidence. 9 82

• Often wears black during training, travel, and later demonic activities. 13 190 300
• His gaze becomes increasingly intense as his cultivation rises; a faint blood-red color appears in his eyes after reaching First Rank. 13 300
• Carries a sword when departing Qingfeng City and later fights with a saber. 62 190

Personality

Deng is ambitious, proud, and unwilling to submit to the limits imposed by his birth. Huo Chengkun's refusal to accept him, his father's favoritism toward other sons, and Wen Zehao's apparent good fortune all sharpen his resentment and hunger for recognition. 17 24 29

He is also generous and capable of loyalty. He invests in his brothers' training, mediates disputes, values Chen Ming's martial insight, and secretly risks himself to warn Chen of an impending threat even while deliberately distancing himself to avoid implicating him. 12 23 102 105

His pride makes him poorly suited to Six Doors' hierarchy: he refuses to rely on Chen Ming's influence and ultimately leaves rather than tolerate continued humiliation from his superior. 62 After entering the demonic path, his pursuit of power grows harsher, but he retains a strong chivalric instinct, repeatedly protecting Chen Ming despite the danger. 117 190 193

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Deng began as Huo Manor's strongest Intermediate Class student and cultivated the Iron Horse Stance to the fifth level. 9

• His swordsmanship is light, swift, and elegant, though Chen Ming identifies its early shortcomings as insufficient force and real-combat experience. 25
• He has enough combat perception to follow Chen Ming and Guan Peng's rapid saber duel when most observers cannot. 22
• His three-month journey raises him two ranks, from Ninth to Seventh. 82

Blood Demon Sutra

The Blood Demon Sutra's blood bead chooses Deng as the successor Demon Child after the previous host's death. 117

• He can absorb cultivation through demonic methods, including refining corpses into Human Pills. 117 190
• His altered true essence easily expels an unusual poison. 117
• His cultivation becomes highly sensitive to the unique characteristics of others' true essence, allowing him to recognize Chen Ming despite a complete disguise. 246
• His cultivation is tied to the Blood Demon Sect and makes him a target of Six Doors and rival demonic cultivators. 108 134 190

Blood God Pearl

Deng possesses the Blood God Pearl, a coveted artifact that accelerates his cultivation and draws the greed of other Blood Demon Sect members. 190 246

• It temporarily elevates him to Third Rank power by transforming absorbed energy into gang essence. 190
• He retrieves the pearl Chen Ming leaves hidden in a cave, confirming Chen's disguised identity through their prior understanding. 246
• He intends to use the artifact to advance further, eventually reaching peak First Rank. 246 300

Six Doors Knowledge

His time in Six Doors gives Deng access to old case files and information networks. 62

• He uncovers that Wu Yao poisoned the former Wu Martial Hall Master and stole the hall's secret manuals. 62
• He analyzes Detective Wang's attack on Chen Ming as an attempt to damage Huo Manor's reputation and establish authority. 23
• He later provides Chen Ming with intelligence on the Blood Demon Sect's expansion and its connection to the Moon God Cult in the South China Sea. 301

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword — carried when leaving Qingfeng City to make a name for himself in the martial world. 62
• Saber — drawn when he turns against his Blood Demon Sect companions to protect Chen Ming and Jade Begonia. 190
• Blood God Pearl — demonic artifact embedded at his brow; enables rapid advancement and temporary explosive power. 190 246

Relationships

• Chen Ming — former senior fellow student and closest long-term friend. Deng recruits him as a sparring partner, learns martial arts from him, warns him of danger, and later risks his life to protect him despite joining the Blood Demon Sect. 12 23 105 190 193
• Guan Peng — sworn younger brother and fellow martial artist. Deng consoles him after his defeat by Chen Ming and encourages him to continue training. 21 23
• Zhuang Xiaotian — sworn younger brother and fellow Six Doors aspirant. They form their brotherhood together and later share concern over Deng's disappearance and demonic affiliation. 21 76 110
• Huo Chengkun — former teacher whose refusal to accept Deng as a disciple fuels Deng's resentment. Despite this, Deng mourns Huo's death deeply because he never had the chance to surpass him. 9 29 31
• Deng Ziyang's father — Giant Tiger Gang leader and father of several sons. His refusal to teach Deng martial arts and later death strongly shape Deng's choices. 17 54
• Zhu Xixi — deceased wife. Her murder by a Blood Demon Sect superior becomes a central source of Deng's hatred and willingness to die fighting the sect. 190 193
• Jade Begonia — temporary ally within the Mystic Realm. She protects Deng during the Blood Demon Sect's scheme, and they agree to assist one another afterward. 245
• Blood Demon Sect — his demonic sect affiliation after becoming the Demon Child; he eventually turns against sect members who murder his wife and threaten Chen Ming. 117 190

Story Role / Major Arcs

Huo Manor and Deng Manor

Deng first notices Chen Ming after Chen defeats Qi Jun, then invites him to a banquet in an attempt to recruit him. Although Chen remains noncommittal, Deng maintains the relationship and later employs him as a paid sparring partner for his brothers. 9 12

After returning from the military examinations, Deng introduces Chen to Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian. Their shared martial discussions and sparring sessions develop Chen's friendship with Deng's sworn brothers. 21 23

Departure from Six Doors

Deng enters Six Doors to escape the constraints of his background, but his gang origins and refusal to endure internal politics create conflict with his superior. He resigns, leaves Qingfeng City, and returns three months later as a Seventh Rank martial artist. 17 62 82

He later secretly warns Chen Ming about danger while distancing himself from his friends. Before departing again, he and Chen acknowledge that their next meeting may place them on opposing sides. 102 105

Demon Child of the Blood Demon Sect

Deng is captured alongside the prior Demon Child after Chen Ming's intervention in Yujie Prefecture. The Blood Demon Sutra selects him as its new Demon Child, setting him on a path of corpse refinement and rapid demonic advancement. 117

His affiliation leads Six Doors to accuse Chen Ming of colluding with him and implicates Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian. 108 110

Reunion in the Fire-Origin Space

When Blood Demon Sect disciples threaten Jade Begonia and Chen Ming, Deng turns on his own side despite knowing he may die. He uses the Blood God Pearl to delay them long enough for Chen to break through to Third Rank. 190

Chen refuses to abandon Deng, heals his mortal injuries, and helps him escape. Deng's choice is driven by both his old loyalty to Chen and grief over Zhu Xixi's murder. 190 193

Blood Demon Sect Insider

Deng reaches Third Rank, then Second Rank, while keeping his recognition of Chen Ming's disguise secret. He cooperates with Jade Begonia against the Blood Demon Sect's scheme and later retrieves the Blood God Pearl Chen has left behind. 244 245 246

By the time Chen visits Deng Manor again, Deng has reached peak First Rank. He becomes a valuable source of intelligence on the Blood Demon Sect's growing influence and its South China Sea connections. 300 301

Notable Quotes

“I refuse to live a mediocre life. So the military exams are my only choice!” 17

“Zhu, today is the day you die.” 190

“You could stand up for me. Am I, Chen Ming, such a cowardly person who fears death?” 193

Trivia

• Deng's followers address him as Big Brother or Eldest Brother, reflecting his leadership within their group. 11 21
• He initially dislikes Wen Zehao largely out of jealousy over Wen's advantages and apparent good fortune. 17 24
• His ability to identify Chen Ming by true essence—not appearance, voice, height, or aura—lets him see through Chen's disguised identity. 246