Zhao Hong

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Zhao Hong began cultivating at age eight and spent 101 years pursuing Foundation Establishment. By age 119, he had remained at Qi Refining Tenth Layer for more than a decade. Possessing Wind, Lightning, and Earth Spiritual Roots, he was judged to have poor prospects; the Zhao Household’s main line abandoned him and left him to fend for himself in Hehuan Town. His lifespan was nearly exhausted when he encountered Lu Chen in the marketplace 24 26.

Desperate for one final chance, Zhao Hong offered his life in exchange for Lu Chen’s Foundation Establishment Pill. He disregarded public claims that the pill was fake, swallowed it immediately, and successfully established his foundation before the gathered crowd 24 25.

The breakthrough restored much of his youth, greatly extended his lifespan, and transformed his standing. He then honored his pledge by kneeling before Lu Chen and accepting service under him. Lu Chen retained him as a servant and trusted helper 26.

Before his breakthrough, Zhao Hong had been sent to Hehuan Town to manage the failing Divine Armory Pavilion, which the Zhao Household had effectively abandoned along with him. He rebuilt the establishment through his own efforts and considers it his personal livelihood rather than an asset of the household that discarded him 99 100.

When the Artifact Refining Sect gained a Nascent Soul Peak ancestor, it began moving to monopolize the Eastern Continent’s Spirit Artifact trade and ordered Zhao Hong out of Hehuan Town. Zhao Hong sought Lu Chen’s protection, insisting that he wished only to preserve the pavilion he had personally built 99.

Appearance

Following Foundation Establishment, Zhao Hong sheds his frail, aged appearance and regains substantial vitality.

• His white hair becomes salt-and-pepper.
• Much of the deep wrinkling on his face fades.
• His skin becomes rosy and translucent after the breakthrough.
• His body turns golden when he activates the Golden Armor Profound Art. 25 26

Personality

Zhao Hong is resolute in the face of desperation. With only a few years left to live and no support from his family, he accepts the risk of Lu Chen’s pill rather than wait passively for death 24.

After his breakthrough, he is intensely grateful and loyal to Lu Chen, readily serving as his guard, intermediary, and manager of practical affairs. He is also protective of his position as Lu Chen’s foremost servant, driving away cultivators who seek to replace him 26 30 33.

His past abandonment leaves him bitter toward opportunism. He angrily rejects Madam Chun’s attempt to reconcile after she previously left him when he seemed incapable of Foundation Establishment 27 42.

Zhao Hong is fiercely protective of both Lu Chen and the Divine Armory Pavilion. Despite knowing that he is weaker than Lin Shanhai, he attacks the Artifact Refining Sect elder after Lin insults Lu Chen and attempts to seize the pavilion 100.

Abilities & Skills

Foundation Establishment Cultivation

Zhao Hong’s breakthrough grants him renewed lifespan, a powerful aura, and a markedly higher status among local cultivators.

• His Foundation Establishment aura is sufficient to force back crowds of mostly Qi Refining cultivators. 30
• He publicly challenges the Lin Household’s contempt after his advancement. 31
• He remains far weaker than Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators such as Lin Yue, who easily slaps him aside. 31
• He is still at the initial Foundation Establishment stage when the Artifact Refining Sect moves against the Divine Armory Pavilion. 99 100
• He can release saber qi through a Lower-Grade Spirit Artifact war saber, but Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator Lin Shanhai effortlessly shatters the weapon and sends him flying. 100

Golden Armor Profound Art

A Zhao Household low-grade Yellow-rank body-refining technique activated during his breakthrough.

• Causes his body to emit a golden radiance. 25
• At its limit, can form golden armor said to be resistant to blades, spears, water, and fire. 25
• Can augment the Zhao Household’s spell cultivation techniques when used together. 25

Administration and Stewardship

Zhao Hong manages Lu Chen’s affairs in Hehuan Town.

• Oversees the Divine Armory Pavilion, a Zhao Household establishment. 33
• Restored the formerly failing Divine Armory Pavilion through his own efforts and commands dozens of Zhao Household outer disciples stationed there. 37 100
• Registers pill customers, manages requests, and arranges meetings for Lu Chen. 42 45 46
• Handles the sale of Lu Chen’s restored Foundation Establishment Pills. 47 48
• Arranges protection and work for Little Xixi’s parents at the Divine Armory Pavilion. 33
• Evacuates Little Xixi’s parents and packs the pavilion’s Spirit Artifacts when conflict with the Artifact Refining Sect escalates. 111

Relationships

• Lu Chen — Master and benefactor. Zhao Hong traded his life for Lu Chen’s Foundation Establishment Pill, then became his servant and devoted follower 24 26.
• Zhao Household of Azure Moon City — Former family and affiliation. As a collateral descendant deemed unable to advance, Zhao Hong was abandoned in Hehuan Town; he no longer considers himself part of the household despite managing its former Divine Armory Pavilion 24 99 100.
• Madam Chun — Former wife. She left Zhao Hong when he seemed unable to advance and later sought reconciliation after his breakthrough; he rejects her completely 27 42.
• Little Xixi’s parents — Charges placed under his protection and employed through his Divine Armory Pavilion at Lu Chen’s request. He later arranges their evacuation amid the Artifact Refining Sect crisis 33 111.
• Lin Tianhe — Hostile. Zhao Hong defends Lu Chen and Xixi against the Lin Household elder after reaching Foundation Establishment 31.
• Lin Yue — Overwhelmingly stronger opponent who humiliates Zhao Hong and takes Xixi away during the dispute at the House of Ten Thousand Beauties 31.
• Lin Shanhai — Hostile. The Peak Foundation Establishment Artifact Refining Sect elder seizes the Divine Armory Pavilion, destroys Zhao Hong’s Spirit Artifact saber, and defeats him with ease 100.
• Artifact Refining Sect — Hostile faction seeking to drive Zhao Hong out of Hehuan Town and seize his Divine Armory Pavilion as part of its campaign against the Zhao Household’s artifact trade 99 100.
• Yun Ao and Yun Feier — Zhao Hong acts as Lu Chen’s gatekeeper, refusing to let them disturb his master while they seek forgiveness 28.

Story Role

Zhao Hong’s successful Foundation Establishment serves as the first public proof that Lu Chen’s pills are genuine, destroying Lin Daoyun’s accusations of fraud and establishing Lu Chen’s reputation as a mysterious pill-refining master 25 26.

After pledging himself to Lu Chen, he becomes the operational backbone of Lu Chen’s activities in Hehuan Town. He guards Lu Chen’s rooms, controls access to pill commissions, manages sales, assists with disguises, and protects the interests of Lu Chen’s followers 27 33 37 45.

His rise also reverses his personal fortunes: the Zhao Household collateral descendant once discarded as a dying failure becomes a Foundation Establishment cultivator with direct access to Lu Chen’s resources and influence 24 26 33.

The attempted seizure of the Divine Armory Pavilion brings Zhao Hong’s personal history with the Zhao Household and Artifact Refining Sect into Lu Chen’s wider conflicts. His appeal for aid gives Lu Chen a direct reason to oppose the Artifact Refining Sect’s abuse of mortals and planned monopoly over Spirit Artifacts 99 100.