Dragon

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Dragon was the former wielder of the Dragon-Head Executioner, a semi-divine weapon restored from one of the previous dynasty’s Three Azure-Heaven Executioners. He had personally recovered the blade from ruins, but it ceased to recognize him after bonding with Wang Ping; Dragon ultimately gave it to Wang Ping. 81 90

He is a long-standing disciple of the Attendant Hall’s First Seat, Lian Ruzhao. Their relationship is informal but deeply rooted: Dragon still worries over her dangerous undertakings as he did when he was younger, while she refers to him as the child who never grew up. 292

Strictly speaking, Dragon was Lian Ruzhao’s first disciple. Both grew up during an age when Transcendents preyed upon the populace and the court failed to intervene, and they survived multiple crises during the development of modern Martial Dao. He remembers her preparations to face death while pioneering the Manifesting Sainthood Divine Form, including her request that he care for those she might leave behind. By the time she prepares to confront the descending True Person, Dragon has white at his temples. 292

Personality

Dragon is proud, competitive, and easily provoked when Wang Ping surpasses him, but his pride does not prevent him from recognizing genuine talent. He initially evaluates Wang Ping harshly, then becomes one of his strongest advocates after seeing his martial potential and conduct in Longxing County. 89 97 98

His understanding of Martial Dao is intensely practical. He teaches that victory matters more than formal honor: retreat, poison, ambush, concealment, and deception are all legitimate tools if they secure survival. 115

Despite his bluster, Dragon is protective of those he accepts. He mentors Wang Ping, personally trains Dog after the Kongzhi battle, and risks his life to create the opening needed to kill Kongzhi. 123 128

Dragon’s competitiveness eventually develops into an unusually self-sustaining confidence. By redefining victory according to his own standards rather than allowing Wang Ping’s progress to determine his worth, he cultivates an inward-looking conviction of invincibility; although its logic is often comically self-serving, it materially strengthens his Martial Dao. 204 205

He values courage as a prerequisite for martial achievement. Wang Ping’s willingness to lead the Blackheads, confront a Transcendent, and seize grain for the people matters more to him than a spotless background. His concern for promising successors is also shaped by the danger that mature Divine Weapons and powerful Grandmasters will attract attention from above and be taken away. 89 95

Dragon finds the capital’s intrigue and his administrative responsibilities stifling. He initially hopes that his assignment to Longxing County will let him travel throughout the world, but resents being replaced by Tiger when the First Seat finally relieves him of his duties. His desire for freedom competes with his unwillingness to concede that the younger generation has overtaken him. 89 107 189

Although deeply invested in Martial Dao’s value, he can acknowledge the benefits of immortal cultivation. Seeing the City God Temples improve public safety, administration, and ordinary people’s lives leads him to praise Wang Ping’s work. He is also willing to share his own newly developed Divine Intent Path without reserving it for himself. 204 292

Abilities & Skills

Divine Intent and Martial Dao

Dragon’s Divine Intent can accelerate his body, perceive combat threats, influence reality, and eventually manifest as tangible phenomena.

• His Grandmaster intuition warns him of lethal danger before ordinary senses can detect it. 118
• At the Communing with the Divine stage, he uses the Twenty-Four Gods within the body to create Divine Intent landscapes that attack an opponent’s consciousness. 119
• After reaching Manifesting Divine Transcendence, his Divine Intent can materialize rather than remain an illusory mental projection. 187
• His later inward-focused path strengthens him through self-defined invincibility and freedom from external comparison. 204
• After this inward breakthrough, he can shatter Wang Ping’s Taiyi Light-Dividing Separation-and-Union Sword Qi with a bare-handed palm strike, displaying strength Wang Ping considers potentially comparable to Xuan He’s. 205
• His Invincible Intent can arrest the collapse of his Divine Intent after a devastating defeat. Against Xuan Yin, he reinterprets the destruction of his divine form as a victory, reconstructs his shattered Divine Intent, and manifests another snow peak despite catastrophic physical injuries. 208
• He further strengthens his Divine Intent by restricting the scope of his invincibility. His example is being the strongest contemporary martial artist surnamed Chen who primarily uses a saber and wears Divine Armor. 251

Lian Ruzhao identifies his path as an inward pursuit of self-perfection rather than the outward intuition and perception developed by herself and other Great Grandmasters. However, she also distinguishes its potential from Dragon’s actual attainment: he maintains it through self-deception, and his practical growth remains limited compared with the profundity of the path. Unlike her unique Divine Intent Path, his begins from foundations that should theoretically allow others to reproduce it. 204 292

Unmatched Slash

Dragon’s signature saber art prioritizes intent, precision, and killing power over raw physical force. 97

• A fully prepared strike is delivered after Dragon builds momentum on the Vermilion Dragon steed, concentrating his accumulated speed and power into a single decisive slash. 117
• His ambush against Kongzhi crossed three kilometers in one thousandth of a second and nearly severed the Loose Immortal’s head. 117
• The technique must be rebuilt after use; Dragon cannot repeatedly unleash its fully charged form without recovering momentum. 117

Dragon’s equipment-based acceleration conserves Divine Intent and allows him to turn and change direction at extreme speeds, unlike Wang Ping’s early straight-line, Divine Intent-driven charges. Its drawback is the time required to accumulate speed; an opponent who survives the opening strike and continually interrupts his acceleration can neutralize his strongest charge. 118

Heavenly Blade Unmatched Slash

Dragon’s Great Grandmaster evolution of Unmatched Slash manifests Divine Intent as a colossal snow-covered mountain and blade.

• Before his Great Grandmaster breakthrough, the technique primarily created a consciousness-affecting scene and severely drained him. 119
• After Manifesting Divine Transcendence, the snow peak becomes real enough to split the skies above the capital. 187
• Its destructive force was matched by Wang Ping’s Taiyi Light-Dividing Separation-and-Union Sword Qi, leaving their clash unresolved. 188 189
• While guarding Wang Ping’s Great Divine Ability breakthrough, Dragon uses the manifested snow peak and his Divine Weapons to forcibly block Xuan Yin’s descending thunderclouds and thunderwhale. 208
• When the first peak is destroyed, his Invincible Intent allows him to manifest a second, smaller peak, prolonging his resistance despite shattered organs and the Divine Armor barely holding his body together. 208

Combat Experience

Dragon combines elite martial skill with careful preparation and battlefield analysis.

• He can conceal himself from Divine Intent, Spirit Sense, and normal sight with his equipment and experience. 115 117
• He rapidly identifies weaknesses in an enemy’s techniques and adjusts his approach when prolonged combat becomes dangerous. 118
• He recognizes that martial strength depends on more than realm alone, particularly a fighter’s weapons, preparation, mentality, and Divine Intent. 114 204
• His accumulated experience includes killing ordinary Loose Immortals with the combination of a concealed high-speed charge and the Coiling Dragon Formation-Breaking Saber’s Dharma Power-breaking effect. He recognizes Kongzhi’s survival of this opening as evidence that the opponent will be unusually difficult to handle. 117
• He understands the limitations of his specialized equipment: once an enemy identifies the functions of his Divine Weapons, his comparatively narrow range of methods becomes easier to counter. 118

Recovery and Instruction

• His Great Grandmaster physique can knit damaged flesh together simply by circulating blood and qi, even without a dedicated healing art. After the Xuan Yin battle, Xuan He estimates approximately three months for recovery, while Dragon insists he can recover within one month. 215
• He teaches Wang Ping the Martial God Illustrated Manual, Five-Weapon Sacred Lord, and God-Communing Secret Art, explaining the relationship between Divine Weapons, Seeing God, and Astral Force. 95 105 114
• When Wang Ping’s Second Physical Transformation threatens to exhaust his Life Essence, Dragon feeds him every pill he carries to support the breakthrough. 129
• At Lian Ruzhao’s request, he prepares to pass his inward Divine Intent Path to Wang Ping and later gives him a cultivation booklet. 292 297

Equipment

• Coiling Dragon Formation-Breaking Saber — Divine saber whose Formation Breaker weapon art can shatter Dharma Power, making it especially effective against cultivators. 117 122
• Hidden Nether Helm — Divine helmet used to conceal Dragon’s aura and form before an ambush. 117
• Vermilion Dragon Greaves — Divine leg armor that summons a dragon steed capable of treading wind and walking through the air. 117
• Dragon-Pattern Armguard — Divine armguard whose dragon patterns appear to come alive when activated. Its bracer component strengthens Dragon’s body as part of his coordinated Divine Weapon set. 114 118
• Sun-Roosting Heartguard Armor — Divine breastplate that stores accumulated damage and releases it when shattered: “When the armor shatters, the sun rises.” Dragon expended its stored force against Kongzhi, after which the armor fragments were reassembled into the Divine Armor configuration used by Wang Ping. 119 122
• Five-Weapon Sacred Lord armor set — Dragon possesses a complete set of five Divine Weapons integrated through the Five-Weapon Sacred Lord method. He can summon the complete Divine Armor configuration for battle. 114 130 205
• Dragon-Head Executioner — His former semi-divine weapon; he relinquished it after it bonded with Wang Ping. 90

Dragon initially forged three Divine Weapons when he broke through through the Five-Weapon Sacred Lord method, then completed all five over more than a decade of subsequent cultivation. The set’s coordinated functions provide concealment, acceleration, bodily reinforcement, protection, and spellbreaking offense. 114 118

Relationships

• Wang Ping / Tiger — Mentor, ally, and increasingly humiliated rival. Dragon supports Wang Ping’s recruitment into the Attendant Hall, teaches him the Martial God Illustrated Manual and Five-Weapon Sacred Lord, and repeatedly finds his own achievements surpassed by Wang Ping’s impossible progress. Even so, he later protects Wang Ping during the latter’s Great Divine Ability breakthrough. 89 95 105 132 205 He subsequently agrees to transmit his inward Divine Intent Path and delivers a cultivation booklet after Lian Ruzhao leaves to face a True Person. 292 297
• Lian Ruzhao / First Seat — Master. She founded the framework of modern Martial Dao, criticizes Dragon’s limitations without restraint, and later entrusts him with passing his Divine Intent Path to Wang Ping. 204 292 He is her first disciple and remembers the mortal dangers she faced while establishing the Manifesting Sainthood realm. Her preparations for another potentially fatal undertaking cause him to address her as “Master” after many years of normally calling her Chief. 292 297
• Dog — Junior companion and student. Dragon frequently belittles Dog’s talent, but personally takes responsibility for training him after being injured in the Kongzhi battle. Following Dragon’s removal from his Attendant Hall post, Dog’s attempt to exploit his lowered status results in even harsher training. 105 123 189 Dog recalls that Dragon once praised him warmly as a promising talent, only to become increasingly critical after meeting Wang Ping. 100
• Kongzhi — Brahma Cultivator and Loose Immortal opponent. Dragon’s ambush, spellbreaking saber, and sacrificial armor strike critically weaken Kongzhi and enable Wang Ping and Ji Wuhen to finish him. 117 119 122
• Ji Wuhen — Temporary ally during the Kongzhi operation. Dragon considers him useful but far less capable than himself against enemies of Kongzhi’s level. 114 117
• Xuan Yin — Enemy who attacks during Wang Ping’s Great Divine Ability tribulation. Dragon holds back Xuan Yin’s divine ability long enough to protect the capital and Wang Ping’s breakthrough, but is left gravely injured in the ensuing battle. 207 208 215
• Xuan He — Fellow defender during Wang Ping’s Great Divine Ability breakthrough. Dragon takes over resisting the descending thunderwhale after Xuan He’s defense fails; Xuan He later evaluates Dragon’s injuries and recovery time. 205 208 215
• Rusty Iron Sword — An old acquaintance whose rare departure from the imperial palace surprises Dragon. When he arrives to escort Wang Ping to the emperor, Dragon uses a seemingly angry denunciation of alchemy to warn Wang Ping about the risks of serving the old emperor as an alchemist. 189

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Tiger

Dragon learns of Wang Ping through Monkey’s account of the Longxing County crisis. He concludes that Wang Ping’s Divine Intent has undergone a qualitative transformation, dismisses suspicions about Wang Ping’s origins, and supports recruiting him based on his actions rather than speculation. 89

He tests Wang Ping by giving him the Martial God Illustrated Manual, only to discover that Wang Ping completes it in three days and instantly reproduces Dragon’s saber techniques. Dragon then inducts him as Tiger, one of the Attendant Hall’s twelve members. 95 97 98

Dragon permits Wang Ping to join secretly while retaining his public identity as the Shu Region Rebel King. He later sends a Golden-Eyed Eagle to notify the capital of Wang Ping’s extraordinary progress, expecting the Chief to come and meet him. 90 107

Battle Against Kongzhi

Dragon joins Wang Ping’s plan to bait and kill Kongzhi, a Brahma Cultivator stronger than an ordinary Loose Immortal. He opens the battle from concealment with a near-light-speed Unmatched Slash, then uses the Coiling Dragon Formation-Breaking Saber and Divine Weapon armor to suppress Kongzhi’s Dharma Power. 114 117

When Kongzhi analyzes his equipment and prevents him from rebuilding acceleration, Dragon manifests the Heavenly Blade Unmatched Slash and finally sacrifices the Sun-Roosting Heartguard Armor. The armor’s stored radiance grievously wounds Kongzhi and creates the opening for Wang Ping and Ji Wuhen to kill him. 118 119 122

Dragon reassembles his shattered Divine Armor around Wang Ping for the finishing attack, restoring the latter’s combat strength and enabling another near-light-speed charge. After Kongzhi’s death, Dragon demands the armor back, only for Wang Ping to pretend not to understand. 122

Grandmaster Rivalry

Dragon assists Wang Ping’s attempt to complete Five-Weapon Sacred Lord, but Wang Ping’s rapid breakthroughs repeatedly overturn Dragon’s expectations. Wang Ping reaches Grandmaster and Communing with the Divine almost immediately, while Dragon’s brief hope of accepting him as a disciple is interrupted by the First Seat. 105 128 130

Within the Martial Arena, Wang Ping defeats Dragon with one surprise saber strike. Dragon later admits internally that Wang Ping’s attack could have forced a draw even in a fair battle, though he refuses to acknowledge the defeat openly. 131 132

When the borrowed Divine Armor returns to him after Wang Ping’s death, Dragon is initially alarmed and furious, then reminds himself that Wang Ping can return to life. On Wang Ping’s subsequent return to Longxing County, Dragon finds his saber stopped effortlessly by a single finger and realizes that Wang Ping’s immortal cultivation has widened the gap between them. 139 156

Great Grandmaster Breakthrough

Dragon emerges from seclusion as a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster, completing Manifesting Divine Transcendence and materializing Heavenly Blade Unmatched Slash over the capital. 187

He attacks Wang Ping under the latter’s changed identity, intending to exploit the disguise as an excuse to claim that he has not recognized Tiger. Although Wang Ping identifies them as allies, Dragon refuses to acknowledge him. Their ultimate techniques collide to a draw, after which Dragon is removed from his Attendant Hall post by the First Seat. 187 188 189

Before Wang Ping enters the imperial palace, Dragon warns him indirectly that making pills for the old emperor is dangerous. Although he had long wanted relief from his duties, the announcement that Tiger will replace him leaves him resentful rather than pleased. 189

The Inward Path

Dragon’s frustration at Wang Ping’s approaching Divine Ability leads him to redefine Martial Dao around personal victory rather than external comparison. This self-sustaining conviction produces an inward-facing Divine Intent Path and another major increase in strength. 204

During his recovery from the Xuan Yin battle, Dragon develops the idea further: the narrower the scope of comparison and the more conditions he adds, the more securely he can consider himself invincible. He reports another surge in Divine Intent after applying this reasoning to a category defined by his surname, weapon, and armor. 251

The First Seat later identifies the path as conceptually profound and potentially limitless, but better suited to a greater genius; Dragon agrees to pass it on to Wang Ping. 292

She also points out the disparity between the path’s potential and Dragon’s actual strength, judging that he would probably lose to a cultivator with a Middle Divine Ability. Dragon admits that he has already tried to teach Wang Ping without success, but accepts her explanation that Wang Ping’s earlier inability does not preclude learning it later. 292

Protection of Tiger’s Great Divine Ability

After his inward-path breakthrough, Dragon is sent to guard Wang Ping while the latter completes the Earth-Bearing Myriad Gods Diagram within the Six Directions Eternal-Suppression Cauldron. He demonstrates his increased power by dispersing Wang Ping’s Taiyi Sword Qi with an empty-handed strike, then takes up the Coiling Dragon Formation-Breaking Saber and Divine Armor to defend the breakthrough. 205

When Xuan Yin attacks with the Middle Divine Ability Abyssal Silence, Thunderous Voice, Dragon uses his Heavenly Blade Unmatched Slash and five Divine Weapons to split the enemy’s thunderclouds and prevent the descending thunderwhale from crushing the capital. Xuan Yin’s attack shatters Dragon’s manifested divine form and gravely injures him, but his Invincible Intent prevents his Divine Intent from collapsing. With his organs shattered and his armor barely holding his body together, he summons a second, smaller divine peak and continues resisting. 207 208

After completing his Great Divine Ability, Wang Ping gives Dragon a pill to stabilize injuries even worse than those sustained against Kongzhi. Dragon subsequently begins recovering far faster than expected through his Great Grandmaster physique. When Wang Ping visits with elixirs, Dragon insists that he has won because Xuan Yin failed to kill him, and disputes Xuan He’s three-month recovery estimate by declaring he needs only one month. 208 215

Witnessing Kun Yun’s Life Tribulation

Dragon watches the confrontation between Kun Yun and Kunlun from the Shu Region and asks the Chief whether she will intervene. She refuses, telling him that a Great Grandmaster must learn endurance and that the heart of Martial Dao is to put an end to violence. The power displayed in the heavens is so intense that merely watching brings tears to his eyes. 222

He later witnesses Wang Ping’s attacks grow stronger throughout the renewed battle against Kun Yun. When Kun Yun stakes his life on a final escalation, Dragon forces himself to continue looking upward despite blood streaming from his eyes and again appeals to the Chief to help Wang Ping. 224 230

Lian Ruzhao’s Departure and the Divine Intent Booklet

Before departing to confront the descending True Person, Lian Ruzhao asks Dragon to transmit his Divine Intent Path to Wang Ping. Recognizing the resemblance to her preparations before pioneering the Manifesting Sainthood Divine Form, Dragon asks whether she is entrusting him with those she may leave behind. She acknowledges that her intuition gives her only about a thirty-percent chance of survival. 292

When Wang Ping returns to the capital, Dragon explains her departure and recalls the circumstances of her earlier breakthrough. She had once believed that overcoming the terror of death was necessary for Manifesting Sainthood, and deliberately fought through apparently fatal crises. Only afterward did she realize that understanding her true heart—not courting death—had been the actual requirement. Her determination to fight Transcendents and bring peace had happened to fulfill it. 297

Reassured by Wang Ping’s hope that she will survive again, Dragon gives him the thin cultivation booklet the Chief instructed him to deliver. Wang Ping subsequently receives confirmation through You Xuexin that Lian Ruzhao is safe. 297

Notable Quotes

“I alone am truly invincible in this world, so why must I contend with others over superiority and inferiority?” 204

“When the armor shatters, the sun rises!” 119

“Train the courage before training the martial arts. Courage comes first.” 95

“I won't compare myself with anyone stronger than me. I'll compare myself ruthlessly with anyone weaker. And if someone's my equal, I'll only compare the things they're worse at.” 204

“I am truly invincible among mortals... Again!” 208

---