Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhao Qiang (赵强) |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Nine years old 18 |
| Affiliation | Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect 17 19 |
| Occupation/Role | Sect disciple; Power Attack System Soul Master 18 19 |
| Martial Soul | Ironback Berserk Lion 18 |
| Soul Power | Level 17 18 |
| Soul Rings | One yellow soul ring 18 |
| First Appearance | Training grounds of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect 17 |
History
Challenge to Zhang Fei
Zhao Qiang is training at the sect when Ning Rongrong arrives holding Zhang Fei’s arm. Jealous of their apparent closeness, he questions the unfamiliar visitor. Rongrong introduces Zhang as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe’s guest and falsely claims that he wanted to assess the disciples’ strength, provoking Zhao further 17.
When Zhang tries to leave politely, Zhao blocks his path and challenges him to spar. Rongrong pretends to protect Zhang while encouraging the confrontation, and the surrounding disciples add their own jeers. Zhao’s taunt about hiding behind a girl finally prompts Zhang to accept 17.
Arena Defeat
Zhao initially expects his level-17 soul power to secure victory over the level-13 Zhang. However, Zhang’s Golden Dragon suppresses his Ironback Berserk Lion, and Zhang repeatedly drives him back in direct exchanges. Neither Zhao’s Lion’s Roar Shock nor his claw attacks can overcome Zhang’s enhanced defense 18.
After catching Zhao’s wrist, Zhang punches him out of the arena, sending him twenty or thirty feet onto the surrounding stone ground. Zhao’s martial-soul possession ends, and he cannot immediately stand. Zhang offers him a hand; Zhao accepts the defeat and lets go of his jealousy and resentment 19.
Appearance
- Sturdy build: Broad shoulders and visibly defined arm muscles despite his young age 17.
- Relative height: Approximately half a head taller than Zhang Fei at their first meeting 17.
- Martial-soul possession: Grows taller and broader through the shoulders and back, develops a coarse dark-gray mane across his skin, and gains sharp fingertip claws 18.
Personality
Zhao is proud of his strength and easily provoked by jealousy over Ning Rongrong. He dismisses Zhang Fei as merely handsome, pressures him into a public match, and assumes that a four-level advantage guarantees victory. As the fight turns against him, frustration drives him to attack more aggressively 17 18.
His pride does not prevent him from acknowledging a fair defeat. Once Zhang wins and treats him graciously, Zhao abandons his earlier bitterness rather than continuing the hostility 19.
Abilities & Skills
Ironback Berserk Lion
Zhao’s beast martial soul manifests as a dark, cast-iron-colored male lion with a bristling mane and white fangs 18.
- Martial-soul possession: Produces a larger, lion-like physique with claws for close-range attacks 18.
- Fighting style: Uses forceful charges and repeated claw strikes in direct combat 18.
- Bloodline suppression: The Golden Dragon’s pressure makes his lion manifestation tremble, lower its head, and bend its legs despite Zhao’s higher soul-power level 18.
Lion’s Roar Shock
His first soul skill releases a deafening roar accompanied by visible sonic ripples directed at the opponent 18.
- Activated through his yellow soul ring 18.
- Fails to penetrate Zhang Fei’s defense after Zhang activates Golden-Armored Body 18.
Relationships
- Ning Rongrong — An admirer whose jealousy she exploits to arrange the spar with Zhang Fei. Her apparent affection for Zhang is staged for amusement 17.
- Zhang Fei — Initially a romantic rival in Zhao’s eyes and then a sparring opponent. Zhang’s decisive victory and gracious conduct replace Zhao’s resentment with respect 17 18 19.
Standing Within the Sect
- Recognized by the watching disciples as one of the best members of their training group, making his defeat by a lower-level visitor particularly surprising 19.
- Zhang Fei considers level 17 at age nine impressive and estimates, rather than confirms, that Zhao’s innate soul power was at least level eight 18.