Xu Hong

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xu Hong (许红)
Alias(es)	Chief Xu; Director Xu; Manager Xu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tai Xuan Sect; Yan Province Academy; Arms Division
Occupation/Role	Chief/Director of the Arms Division; manager of the Beyond the Pass Martial Competition team
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 82

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dark Force Martial Master	116	An established Dark Force expert by the journey Beyond the Pass; he confronts Yang Hu, another Dark Force Martial Master, and identifies himself as the Arms Division Chief of the Tai Xuan Sect’s Yan Province Academy. 116
Threshold of Transformed Force	133	His victory over Wang Yibo pushes his Mountain Word Secret and overall cultivation to the verge of a Transformed Force breakthrough. 133
Transformed Force	140, 146	Xu Hong completes his breakthrough following the competition; he later tells Xu Yinglan that he has already entered Transformed Force and may leave Yan Prefecture. 140 146

Background / History

Xu Hong serves as the Chief of the Yan Province Academy’s Arms Division, the academy branch responsible for combat operations and monitoring martial-world activity in Yan Prefecture. He reports to Vice Academy Master Lü Xin, but handles their tense political discussions cautiously, particularly when Lü Xin expresses hostility toward Liu Yuanzhou. 83 97

He recognizes Liu Yuanzhou’s potential early on, though he initially avoids openly recruiting him because Liu belongs to the Merit Division and is associated with Lü Xin’s political opponents. 83 During the Beyond the Pass Martial Competition, Xu Hong volunteers to accompany the delegation because he sees the journey and competition as his remaining opportunity to pursue a higher breakthrough. 102

In Yu Province, Liu Yuanzhou consults Xu Hong about the Horse Gang and his abducted cousin, Zhang Dan Dan. Xu Hong arranges for the Yu Province Academy to return her safely to Yan Prefecture, but warns Liu against escalating the larger Horse Gang matter in a foreign province. 107 109

When Liu decides to escort the orphaned Akite to her grandfather’s Tar Tribe, Xu Hong ultimately permits the detour, supplies him with maps, food, and travel necessities, and gives him five days to rejoin the team. 115 Xu Hong secretly follows Liu during the journey, saves him from Lu Busha, and subsequently fights Yang Hu after the latter attacks them. 116 119

Xu Hong defeats Yang Hu but sustains serious injuries. Liu finishes the wounded Yang Hu, while Xu Hong discovers that the bandit’s inner armor had dissipated much of his Dark Force strike; he gives the armor to Liu for protection. 117 127

At Baxi Ma Snow Mountain, Xu Hong represents the Tai Xuan Sect in the Dark Force Martial Master competition. He defeats Changbai Sect martial artist Wang Yibo through his Mountain Word Secret, then receives treatment from Ma Ji and gains crucial insight into Transformed Force. 132 133 By the time Liu returns to Yan Province Academy, Xu Hong has completed the breakthrough. 140 146

Appearance

Xu Hong is a short, stout man in his forties. 83 He is seen in fiery-red robes during the martial competition, while at home he favors a plain gray homespun robe. 133 145

• Short and stout build. 83
• Wears a fiery-red robe when entering the competition arena. 132 133
• Appears radiant and walks with vigorous strides after advancing in cultivation. 145

Personality

Xu Hong is pragmatic, restrained, and politically aware. Although he sympathizes with Liu Yuanzhou’s desire to confront injustice, he prioritizes the safety of the delegation and the academy’s interests when dealing with entrenched forces such as the Horse Gang. 107

He nevertheless respects conviction and personal responsibility. Liu’s determination to fulfill Mo Tan’s final request reminds Xu Hong of his younger self, leading him to approve the dangerous escort mission despite his initial reservations. 115

Xu Hong is protective toward those under his care. He personally intervenes to save Liu from Lu Busha, provides guidance during Liu’s recovery, and entrusts him with valuable protection during the competition. 116 127 His affection for his daughter Xu Yinglan is equally apparent, though he urges her to move beyond her attachment to her senior brother and consider her future. 146

He can also be forceful when pursuing a goal. While recruiting Liu into the Arms Division, Xu Hong deliberately releases an overwhelming aura to pressure him, revealing a domineering side that contrasts with his usual low-key demeanor. 145

Abilities & Skills

Dark Force Martial Arts

Xu Hong was a seasoned Dark Force Martial Master before entering Transformed Force. His condensed palm and fist strength allows him to fight at high speed while maintaining control over the battlefield. 116 117

• Defeated the Dark Force Martial Master Yang Hu in a life-or-death battle. 117
• Fought Wang Yibo, a Changbai Sect Dark Force Martial Master, to victory in the Beyond the Pass competition. 133
• Retains composure under pressure and adapts his tactics when opponents conceal their true capabilities. 117 133

Tai Bai Fist Classic — Mountain Word Secret

Xu Hong practices the Tai Xuan Sect’s Tai Bai Fist Classic, specializing in the Mountain Word Secret, which he has cultivated to Major Accomplishment. 117

• Emphasizes solidity, stability, and minimizing openings. 117
• Uses heavy, condensed palm and fist force while targeting an opponent’s lower body. 117
• Countered Wang Yibo’s Thousand Mountains Snow and its killing move, Trample Mountain, by combining speed with the Mountain Word Secret’s heavy momentum. 133
• Used the Iron Mountain Lean to send Yang Hu flying and create the opening that ended their battle. 117

Transformed Force

Following the competition against Wang Yibo, Xu Hong gains insight into Transformed Force and later completes the breakthrough. 133 140 146

• His breakthrough makes him one of the academy’s higher-level martial artists. 146
• He suggests that this advancement may lead to his departure from Yan Prefecture. 146

Intelligence and Field Command

As Arms Division Chief, Xu Hong oversees martial-world intelligence and operational security in Yan Prefecture. 97

• Reports White Head Sect activity across multiple Yan Prefecture counties and identifies areas suspected of sheltering Martial Master-level “True Masters.” 97
• Organizes travel preparations and supplies for Liu’s independent escort mission. 115
• Handles the political consequences of killing Two Dragons Mountain Martial Masters by reporting the incident to Ma Ji and Manager Sun. 119
• Evaluates Liu’s combat prospects and provides tactical advice before the final day of the Changbai Sect competition. 127

Emergency Treatment

Xu Hong demonstrates practical treatment knowledge during combat emergencies.

• Resets Liu Yuanzhou’s dislocated arm immediately after saving him from Lu Busha. 116
• Carries a medicinal pill that stabilizes his injuries after the battle with Yang Hu. 117

Equipment / Items

• Recovery pill — A black medicinal pill Xu Hong takes after suffering severe injuries in his fight with Yang Hu. 117
• Maps, dry food, and outdoor supplies — Provided to Liu Yuanzhou for the journey to the Tar Tribe. 115
• Yang Hu’s Treasure Armor — Xu Hong identifies the armor’s ability to dissipate Dark Force and gives it to Liu Yuanzhou for protection during the competition. 117 127

Relationships

• Liu Yuanzhou — Junior disciple and trusted subordinate. Xu Hong supports Liu’s growth, rescues him from Lu Busha, permits him to escort Akite, and later attempts to recruit him into the Arms Division. 107 115 117 145
• Xu Yinglan — His daughter and an Arms Division team captain. Xu Hong is openly affectionate toward her, but worries that she remains unable to let go of her senior brother. 82 146
• Lü Xin — Direct superior and Vice Academy Master of Yan Province Academy. Xu Hong handles Lü Xin carefully, especially regarding Lü Xin’s resentment toward Liu Yuanzhou. 83 102
• Ma Ji — Senior Tai Xuan Sect martial artist and competition leader. Ma Ji heals Xu Hong after his match with Wang Yibo, preventing lasting damage and helping solidify Xu Hong’s insight into Transformed Force. 133
• Yang Hu — Dark Force Martial Master of Two Dragons Mountain and Xu Hong’s opponent. Xu Hong defeats him after Yang Hu attacks in a rage. 116 117
• Wang Yibo — Changbai Sect Dark Force Martial Master defeated by Xu Hong in the snow-mountain competition. 133