Zhang Ping

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

In his previous life, Zhang Ping served on a private rescue team. He died in a nighttime landslide while travelling to rescue lost hikers, then transmigrated into the body of the original Zhang Ping, who had died in despair after awakening what appeared to be a Useless Tier ability. The transmigrated Zhang retained the original owner’s memories but regarded survival and practical work as preferable to chasing glory through dangerous combat. 1

The original Zhang Ping had grown up in an orphanage near a small park behind the former Beef Brisket Ramen Shop. Before enrolling at Pearl Ability Academy, he practiced martial arts alone in that park, a detail known to very few people and later used in a coded message directed at him. 7

At Pearl Ability Academy, Zhang initially expected to become a farmer after graduation. His outlook changed after he consumed one of his own gems and discovered he could command his body beyond the limits of ordinary willpower. He soon realized that Luo Shiyu, a popular student, was actually a Heavenly Fox using perception distortion to hide its monstrous form. 1 2

Following his advancement to Intermediate Awakened, Zhang’s memories from both lives replayed and settled within his consciousness, strengthening his sense of identity. After later developing a spirit body, he could clearly distinguish the original Zhang Ping’s memories from his own while accepting both as parts of himself. 64 285

Zhang’s experience of more than a thousand subjective years within the Great Sun Boundary-Sealing Divine Needle profoundly changed his outlook. Although he emerged only a week after disappearing, he resolved to use his strength to establish and support a rescue organization for people trapped in danger. 326 327

Personality

Zhang is pragmatic, observant, and unusually cautious for his age. His rescue-worker background leads him to gather evidence, assess danger, and avoid reckless confrontations even when he witnesses atrocities committed by the Heavenly Foxes. 2 4

He approaches powers through experimentation. He repeatedly tests his body, abilities, equipment, and forging methods, treating failure as information rather than a reason to give up. This curiosity helped him discover applications for Contract Gem, Fire Eater, Pure Water Body, Nether Mist, Metal Eater, and Information Control. 1 10 26 28 155 360

Despite his growing strength, Zhang remains morally conflicted about killing. He distinguishes self-defense and protecting others from violence driven by anger, and he fears that his expanding abilities may gradually shape his desires and turn him into a Lost One. 38 47

His pragmatism has grown harsher when confronting irredeemable enemies. He has converted condemned enemies into summoned beasts and suppressed their thoughts, emotions, and desires when he judged their abilities too useful to discard. 129

Zhang has little interest in political rule despite his power. He prefers personal freedom, exploration, protecting his companions, resolving the Heavenly Fox and Zhu Family crises, and building the Rescue Team rather than unifying humanity or handling routine administration. 88 308 383

Abilities & Skills

Contract Gem and Absolute Command

Contract Gem allows Zhang to condense gems by consuming stamina and Mental Strength. A target who willingly consumes one becomes his summoned beast; their life, soul, and consciousness are governed by him, while they receive increases to potential and luck. 2

• Zhang is both his own summoner and summoned beast, allowing Absolute Command and Absolute Obedience to govern his own body. 2
• He can order his body to exercise, run, sleep, or perform actions while his consciousness rests or remains alert. 1 5
• Subsequent gem consumption slightly raises potential and carries a 1% chance to awaken a new talent. 2
• The ability requires voluntary acceptance and consumes stamina and Mental Strength. 2
• Its appraisal description warns that it was acquired at the cost of intelligence, potential, and luck, and possesses an unspecified “enormous flaw.” 2
• After becoming an Intermediate Awakened, Zhang gained Limited Contract, enabling him to customize terms and create Weapon Contracts, Treasure Contracts, and Storage Contracts. 64
• As a High-Level Awakened, subsequent Contract Gem consumption grants a 10% chance to awaken a talent, and Zhang can use Contract Power to store willing living beings without contracting them. 251 308
• He can use contracts to treat the Lost State, form exceptionally durable weapons, impose restrictions, and turn enemies who accept his gems into controlled assets. 130 129
• Absolute Command cannot directly grant immortality or genetic alteration without sufficient biological knowledge and personal ability to make those changes. 178

Appraisal Technique and Information Control

Zhang’s appraisal ability developed from Unstable Appraisal to Stable Appraisal, Strategic Appraisal, and eventually Collector’s Edition Appraisal Technique. 2 5 15 24

• Stable Appraisal is more likely to succeed when the strength gap is small; after the first successful appraisal of a target, future attempts become easier. 5
• Strategic Appraisal can reveal factional affiliations, allowing Zhang to identify the Cleanup Team. 15
• Appraisal lets him identify Mutated Beast levels, talents, equipment properties, and unusual materials. 5 17 24
• It can fail against targets protected by specialized abilities, such as Situ Shibai’s Information-Sealing Energy Membrane. 29
• Appraisal information is not purely objective: it combines facts supplied by the target with Zhang’s own knowledge and understanding. 131
• Zhang believes the ability’s repeated evolution reflects his insecurity and lack of a permanent home. 130
• After communicating with it, Appraisal Technique mutated into Information Control, which continuously collects environmental and sensory data and can provide detailed intelligence at a thought. 360

Nightwalker and Nethermist Nightwalker

Nightwalker is Zhang’s primary nocturnal stealth talent. It later evolved after he consumed the Lone Testicle Orb. 3 24

• Grants night vision, reduced presence, increased speed, lower body weight, and invisibility while standing in shadows. 5
• Its concealment weakens after dawn, a flaw that nearly exposed Zhang to the Heavenly Foxes. 5
• Combined with the Assassination Ring, it allowed him to move through Mingzhu City largely unnoticed. 5 9
• The ability emerged from Zhang’s fear and desire to hide after discovering the Heavenly Foxes, but ultimately enabled him to survive long enough to seek revenge. 130
• Zhang continues combining it with Nether Mist disguises and decoys to infiltrate hostile groups and follow enemies undetected. 298

Fire Eater and Flame Eater

Fire Eater enables Zhang to absorb flames and store fire-element energy inside his body. 10

• Restores stamina by consuming flames, including flames he creates himself. 10 21
• Grants cold resistance and permits fire-element energy to be released around his body. 10
• Developed techniques include Flame Palm, flame bursts from his feet or shoulder blades, and Flame Blade. 14
• He cannot freely control fire once it leaves his body, and releasing flames from areas covered by clothing can burn his equipment. 11 14
• The talent later evolved into Flame Eater, allowing him to absorb ambient heat, convert excess heat into stored fire-element energy, and create low temperatures through heat absorption. 97 130
• He later acquired Fire Element Manipulation, enabling him to convert excess stamina into controllable fire-element energy and shape it into techniques such as a superheated fire whip. 270

Nethermist Body

Nethermist Body converts fear into controllable Nether Mist. It became Zhang’s foremost offensive and defensive ability after he consumed the Lone Testicle Orb. 24

• Nether Mist can cut through objects, block attacks, propel Zhang through the air, and form weapons such as Nethermist Flying Knives. 24 26
• Zhang can perceive fear as purple energy and absorb it to strengthen his mist. 32
• The inherited King Bloodline trait lets Nether Mist inflict damage beyond its apparent rank against beings below King level. 26
• He uses the mist with a cloak, mask, and scythe to assume his Reaper persona. 34 36
• The mist can pass through many physical defenses, though its early tornado techniques were too slow and weak to decisively threaten stronger enemies. 131
• The King of Nether Mist later completed the ability, allowing Zhang’s Nether Mist to replenish indefinitely and become stronger through emotional reactions from enemies. 258

Pure Water Body

Pure Water Body transforms Zhang into living water. 26

• Absorbs moisture to restore stamina and heal injuries. 26
• Removes poison, negative conditions, and bodily impurities. 26 28
• Can reshape into humanoid or animal-like forms and precisely sense temperature. 28
• Resists many water-based attacks, including Liu Sishan’s water and ice techniques. 26
• Effective combat use demands considerable Mental Strength and fine control. 28
• Though highly resistant to conventional water attacks, the form can still be harmed by overwhelming physical force, ice, heat, lightning, and other suitable counters. 26
• It later became one of two specialized body forms derived from Pure Blood Body, favoring flexibility, lightness, evasion, and fluid transformation. 131

King-Blood Body

Pure Blood Body allows Zhang to transform into blood and sense the condition of living beings. 39

• By entering another person’s bloodstream, he can heal injuries, remove scars, and restore damaged tissue. 39 40
• He fully regenerated Liu Tiefeng’s severed arm and repaired numerous older injuries. 40
• Entering Liu Sishan’s body restored her fatigue and hidden injuries while also rapidly replenishing Zhang’s Mental Strength. 46
• The later King-Blood Body is tougher and more durable than Pure Water Body, specializing in healing, blood recovery, regeneration, and durable blood-based constructs. 131
• Zhang can use separated blood and blood-controlled decoys for reconnaissance, healing, combat, and deception. 149 298
• His developed body and soul can regenerate one another, while Reset Eye provides an additional restoration safeguard through recorded reset points. 298

Wind Whisperer

Wind Whisperer is a passive talent awakened through contact with a Wind Gem. 17

• Allows Zhang to overhear secrets and conversations carried by the wind. 18
• Provides valuable intelligence on powerful figures, Heavenly Foxes, and hidden conspiracies. 18 29
• He cannot choose what he hears and is forced to endure disturbing private information. 18
• The ability is connected to the Flowing Wind Profound Path, a principle that exists in all flowing things, including time. 183

Other-Eater and Consumption Abilities

Other-Eater, later discussed as “Strange Eater,” may grant special constitutions when Zhang consumes unusual substances. 24 25

• It appears connected to his acquisition of body-type abilities after consuming rare treasures or contaminated materials. 24 26
• Zhang suspects it digested a parasitic Nether Mist Mutated Beast, but this has not been confirmed. 25
• Attempts to gain additional constitutions from metals and poison produced no reliable results. 28
• Other-Eater can increase Zhang’s potential and strengthen existing abilities when he consumes sufficiently valuable substances, including special blood. 130
• Metal Eater allows him to consume biological and extraordinary metals, form metallic coatings, reshape his body, and grow to enormous size. 155 167
• Energy Eater enables him to absorb incoming energy directly, while Sharp Thrust lets sharp parts of his body extend at greater speed and penetrative force. 270
• Blood Drinker permanently improves his physical strength and Mental Strength through drinking living beings’ blood. 249
• Through the combination of Glutton and Linker, Zhang can forcibly extract abilities from unconscious Awakened or Mutated Beasts without using a Contract Gem. 360

Psychokinesis and Super Psion

Super Psion converts Zhang’s Mental Strength into Psychokinesis. 149

• Extrasensory Analysis lets him inspect his body, abilities, and advancement progress in exceptional detail. 149
• He can levitate himself and others, conduct telepathic communication, restrain enemies, and use remote force in combat. 149 167
• His Psychokinesis initially lagged behind Prince Yue’s materialized Mental Strength in raw quantity and intensity, but his later advancement greatly expanded its range, control, and killing power. 197 251
• Zhang can combine Psychokinesis with Laser Eye, Metallic Coating, giant transformation, and King’s Gems for long-range combat. 240

Eyes, Gems, and Later Innate Abilities

• King’s Gem produces gems with random special functions, including food production, surveillance, substitution, movement, concealment, explosion, defense, language, and spatial effects. 132
• Purifying Realm Gem creates the Sanctified World, which admits purified undead and spirit bodies, reveals spirits, repels filth, and can increase Zhang’s Mental Strength through spiritual fluctuations. 132
• Mutation Eye strengthened Zhang’s Laser Eye into a weapon capable of threatening Top-Tier Awakened, while Purple Light Eye can dissolve a target’s cells. 228
• Cursed Eye can impose conditional curses through direct eye contact against targets unable to resist, such as forcing Sun Rong to perform one hundred good deeds whenever he uses an ability. 228
• Baldness Ripple consumes Mental Strength to permanently destroy a target’s hair follicles and prevent hair regeneration. 248
• Animated Fairy transforms inanimate matter into temporary healing fairies, including Yaoyao. 250
• Survivor improves his evasion and defenses against bullets, arrows, and similar weapon attacks. 257
• Zhang’s powers can become unstable and seemingly autonomous under extreme interference; he can restore order by using Contract Gem as their foundational authority. 358

Martial Arts and Forging

Zhang supplements his abilities with physical training, martial arts, and blacksmithing. 3 7

• Practices Pearl Fist, Bright Fist, and the Beast King Fist Hall’s Ape King, Giant Crocodile, and Phoenix Claw forms. 3 15 18 36
• Learned the Dough-Kneading Forging Technique under Qiu Qiang and Liu Tiefeng, using tactile dough exercises to develop material sensitivity and full-body control. 7 8
• Successfully forged a Pearl Saber after earlier failures caused by poor heat control and insufficient kneading strength. 17
• Learned combat principles from Emperor Chang Man and Emperor Ji Kai’s inheritances, substantially improving his natural timing, rhythm, and battle instincts. 188 193
• Developed World’s First Scythe, an incomplete adaptation of Chang Man’s World’s First All-Fang Style using Flame Element energy in place of Gengjin Force. 188

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Assassination Ring — Causes living beings to unconsciously overlook its wearer; High-Level Awakened and stronger beings are immune. 4
• Beauty’s Tear — A translucent dagger gifted by Qiu Qiang and named by Zhang; it was later destroyed by corrosive acid. 6 22
• Pearl Saber — Standard anti-Mutated Beast weapon forged by Zhang after repeated practice. 17
• Cold Jade / Warm Jade — Paired emergency devices: heating Zhang’s Cold Jade causes Liu Sishan’s Warm Jade to become hot. 14
• Ghost Lantern — Produces gray light that turns its illuminated surroundings black and white; Zhang uses it while operating as the Reaper. 36
• Fear War Scythe — A scythe obtained from Situ Shibai that induces fear within three meters, absorbs blood, and can evolve over time. 29 30
• Golden Treasury Bracelet — Spatial storage equipment with roughly 450 cubic meters of capacity. 29 30
• Storage Contracts — Specialized Contract Gems that compress and store objects; Zhang and his allies use them as portable storage and support spaces. 64 178
• King’s Gems — Randomized special gems Zhang creates and uses for combat, survival, scouting, and utility. 132
• Coiling Dragon Venerable — Formerly the Entwined Dragon Venerable, a red metallic dragon biological weapon and guardian that Zhang later subdues through Contract Gem. 325 360
• Reset Eye — Maintains recorded restoration points that can restore Zhang’s head or soul after otherwise fatal damage. 298

Relationships

• Liu Sishan — Childhood acquaintance from the orphanage, Cleanup Team protector, combat instructor, and trusted confidante. Their partnership develops through shared investigations, training, mutual healing, and their later service together in the Rescue Team. 11 13 21 46 47 201 230
• Liu Tiefeng — Iron Soul’s elderly master forger and Zhang’s primary forging mentor. Zhang becomes his caretaker and later regenerates his severed arm. 7 8 40
• Qiu Qiang — Iron Soul’s owner and veteran adventurer who offers Zhang food, lodging, wages, blacksmithing instruction, and Beauty’s Tear. 6 7
• Wang Jieming — Fellow Beast King Fist Hall student. Zhang patiently breaks down techniques for him and protects him from threats he is not ready to face. 17 36
• Su Jingyao — Zhang’s former deskmate and a central member of his later circle. Her apparent death and the Heavenly Fox crisis shaped Zhang’s Nightwalker, while she later assists him with the Rescue Team and organization building. 1 130 308
• Situ Shibai — Cleanup Team captain, mentor, and fellow Infinite Tier ability user. He tested Zhang’s power, provided the Fear War Scythe and Golden Treasury, guided his development, and later died during the conflict with Zhu Chengmian. 29 30 64 390
• Prince Yue and the Heavenly Foxes — Zhang’s principal early enemies. Their infiltration of Mingzhu City drove his investigation and training; Zhang ultimately defeated Prince Yue and the Moon King, ending the original Heavenly Fox threat to the city. 2 200
• Chen Juntaing — A kidnapped Intermediate Awakened Zhang protects from the Beast-Taming Zhu Family’s agents. 31 32
• Zhang Shouzhong — Close companion, summoned beast, and vital Rescue Team supporter. He provides Fat Energy tools, shields, equipment, storage support, and administrative assistance. 129 178 308
• Cheng Xuejie — Rescue Team companion whose Bioforce Field serves as reconnaissance and battlefield support. She trains alongside Liu Sishan to avoid becoming a burden to Zhang. 178 230 383
• Feng Laixian — Beast King Fist Hall master and later Patrol Team commander. He is a respected combat benchmark, ally, and one of Zhang’s most reliable defenders. 197 201
• Liu Dashan and Chen Mei — People Zhang rescues and shelters through his Storage Contract. Zhang asks Liu Dashan to consider caring for an alternate-world Liu Tiefeng. 308 326
• Coiling Dragon Venerable — Zhang’s powerful dragon guardian. Though initially autonomous and primarily loyal to the Extraterrestrial Stone Tablet, it becomes Zhang’s subdued servant after his Contract Gem invasion. 325 360
• The Beast-Taming Zhu Family — Zhang’s long-term enemies and the organization he vows to destroy for its role in the Heavenly Fox crisis, Specimen Soldiers, Wolfpack Snowfield, and repeated attacks on his companions. 200 250 303

Story Role / Major Arcs

Heavenly Fox Infiltration

Zhang discovers that Heavenly Foxes have replaced or consumed people throughout Mingzhu City, including members of the school and Patrol Team. Unable to expose them without proof, he becomes a covert investigator and uses his abilities to map their activity. 2 4

Iron Soul Apprenticeship

After graduating early, Zhang moves into Iron Soul to care for Liu Tiefeng while studying forging and Mutated Beast materials. The shop becomes his base for training, weapon-making, and contact with Qiu Qiang and Wang Jieming. 7 8 17

Cleanup Team Informant

After proving his humanity to Liu Sishan through their shared orphanage memories, Zhang agrees to identify Heavenly Foxes for the Cleanup Team while Liu secretly protects and monitors him. 11 13

Salt Frost Tree Valley

Liu Sishan brings Zhang outside the city for combat training and the Salt Frost Tree conflict. After nearly dying against the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit Leader, he consumes the Lone Testicle Orb, reaches Level 9, and gains Nethermist Body and Other-Eater. 21 23 24

Zhu Family Conflict

Zhang investigates the Beast-Taming Zhu Family remnants and discovers their involvement in Mingzhu City’s crisis. While rescuing Chen Juntaing from kidnappers, he kills three attackers and learns to use fear as fuel for Nether Mist. 30 31 32

Exposure and Exile from Mingzhu City

After Heavenly Fox tortures Liu Tiefeng, Zhang helps kill it with Situ Shibai’s support. Prince Yue retaliates by destroying Iron Soul, exposing Zhang’s identity and forcing him to flee the city with Liu Sishan and Liu Tiefeng. 38 39

Living Corpse Siege

During the Living Corpses’ assault on Mingzhu City, Zhang’s earlier warning helps the city prepare. He later observes the siege through a blood snake and investigates the possible Lost One controlling the corpses while Liu Sishan restrains him from acting impulsively. 46 47

Intermediate Awakening and Contracted Allies

After reaching Intermediate Awakened, Zhang gains refined control over Contract Gem and begins expanding his forces. He contracts allies and condemned enemies, including Long Fubo and Zhou Qingbai, using their replication and Forest Outlaw abilities to strengthen his group. 64 129

Metal Virus and Ancient Inheritance

Zhang acquires Metal Eater and turns the Metal Virus assault on White Iron Town into an opportunity for extraordinary growth. His later giant metallic form clears Monster Island by brute force, after which he chooses Emperor difficulty in the Ancient Ruins and receives the inheritances of ancient emperors. 155 167 170 182 188

Defeat of the Heavenly Foxes

Having grown into a King-level combatant, Zhang confronts Prince Yue and the Moon King. He defeats both through Metallic Coating, immense physical strength, Psychokinesis, and tactical compatibility with their abilities, then destroys their remains to prevent recovery. 197 200

Investigation Team Reorganization

Situ Shibai appoints Zhang captain of the Investigation Team’s Gui Team and creates a Special Action Group with Liu Sishan, Zhang Shouzhong, and Cheng Xuejie. Zhang subsequently confronts hostile Investigation Team captains and asserts the Gui Team’s authority. 201 228 240

High-Level Awakening and Zhu Family War

By consuming Contract Gems and flesh created through the Heavenly Fox conflict, Zhang reaches High-Level Awakened and Level 20. He gains new powers at a rapid rate, survives repeated assassination attempts, defeats martial arts halls, and becomes the Zhu Family’s greatest perceived threat. 248 251 257 298 303

Rescue Team Establishment

After escaping the Great Sun Boundary-Sealing Divine Needle and returning with the Entwined Dragon Venerable, Zhang resolves to build a Rescue Team. Although nominally its leader, he delegates administration to Su Jingyao and others while serving as the organization’s protector, ability source, and principal combat force. 325 326 327 308

Coiling Dragon Subjugation and Ability Evolution

Following a devastating attack and an ability rampage, Zhang recognizes the Coiling Dragon Venerable as a dangerous autonomous asset. He communicates with his powers, evolves Appraisal into Information Control, then isolates the Extraterrestrial Stone Tablet’s influence and subdues the dragon through Contract Gem. 358 360

Rescue Team Expansion and World Exploration

As the Rescue Team develops specialized Strategy, Damage-Control, and research functions, Zhang withdraws from routine management. He is tasked with locating parallel worlds, collecting useful abilities, and capturing Mutated Beasts for the organization’s future defense and expansion. 379 383