Wu Junji

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Life before rebirth

Wu Junji originally came from the modern world, where he was a northerner and had never experienced serious hardship. In his former life in Great Zhou, Emperor Zhou discarded him immediately after birth. A trafficker raised him tethered in a cowshed, intending to sell him; Wu Junji escaped at four 1 24 48.

He survived while travelling north, taking ten years to reach Chang'an. Because the city had no place for beggars, he lived in Minglu Academy's orchards and watched over the fruit for two years. He had nearly persuaded a wealthy student to secure him residency when his identity as the crown prince overturned his plans 48.

Life at court subjected him to humiliation, betrayal, and lasting injuries. At one banquet, a false accusation forced him to crawl among the guests collecting silver beads while they kicked and mocked him. He nevertheless spent ten years compiling the Peaceful People's Encyclopedia, a work of 5,700 volumes and more than a hundred million characters, which Chen Yu burned 5 8.

After losing his supporters and suffering a crippled hand, damaged hearing, and impaired sight, Wu Junji gathered eight hundred men. His forces returned under the banner of purging wicked ministers, and he displaced his eighth brother at the Azure Dragon Gate. This seizure of the throne became known as the Revolution of the Old Days 17.

His revenge included flaying six brothers alive, using two others as living sacrifice pillars, poisoning Emperor Zhou, and sabotaging the timber of the imperial tomb. At thirty-nine, his damaged body failed while he laughed in Emperor Zhou's mourning hall 1 3 15 17 41.

Rebirth and the secret of his birth

Wu Junji returned to life as a premature newborn and discovered that Emperor Zhou himself had borne him. This explained the secrecy surrounding his parentage and his father's hostility in their former life. Wu Bing began strangling him, but stopped after recalling nightmares of the crown prince's lonely death 1.

The empress recognized his resemblance to Wu Bing and ordered that he be raised. Emperor Zhou later decided to keep him, brought him back to the palace, and established that he had been born before Wu Junzheng. Abbot Tianxuan's declaration that he possessed an emperor's destiny helped secure the Retired Emperor's consent to his appointment as crown prince 1 3 5.

Although he had not wanted another lifetime, Wu Junji remained determined to rule. His immediate strategy was to obtain Emperor Zhou's affection as protection against palace intrigue and succession struggles, rather than rely solely on an imperial appointment that could be withdrawn 6 15.

Appearance

Wu Junji closely resembles Emperor Zhou, but his delicate appearance and distinct bearing contrast with his father's. Palace attendants regard him as exceptionally beautiful in his reborn life 5 44.

• Eye mole: A pinprick-sized mole beneath the outer corner of his right eye 1.
• Eyes and complexion: Large, dark eyes and skin compared to mutton-fat jade 5 14.
• Small build: Born at eight months weighing four jin; noticeably smaller than other infants and later less robust than Wu Junzheng 1 3 14.
• Preferred clothing: Favors four-clawed dragon robes as a visible assertion of his rank. Resents the animal costumes Emperor Zhou makes him wear 6 7.
• Previous-life appearance: Entered Chang'an dark-skinned, sallow, visibly sickly, and unable to fill out his elaborate court clothing 8 44.

Personality

Wu Junji is ambitious, calculating, and intensely protective of his dignity. He wants recognition as a sovereign in Great Zhou's official history, not merely a comfortable life under imperial patronage. His sensitivity to clothing and forms of address comes from having repeatedly been made a spectacle at court 6 7.

His polished manners often conceal malice. He can flatter, negotiate, or patiently endure humiliation while preparing retaliation. When visiting the Retired Emperor, he outwardly accepted criticism while privately imagining torturing him once he became helpless 9 14 15.

Survival takes precedence over appearances when necessary. Despite his concern for princely dignity, he will use a spittoon as a food bowl rather than go hungry. Hunger remains especially frightening because of his childhood deprivation and Emperor Zhou's previous attempt to starve him in prison 10 28.

Rebirth leaves him divided between old hatred and the knowledge that changed circumstances can produce different choices. He acknowledges that many former enemies are innocent in the current lifetime, but promises only to remain reasonable if they behave themselves. He is particularly unwilling to let go of people who remember the emperor he became through his own struggle 41 47.

His affection for Emperor Zhou develops alongside distrust rather than replacing it outright. After his father's rescue and willingness to support him even through national disaster, Wu Junji openly says that he loves him. He nevertheless continues to judge imperial affection through the realities of authority, status, and possession 6 15 37 38.

Abilities & Skills

Human Emperor Fortune

• Greater reserve than ordinary imperial fortune: Emperor Zhou compares the cost of replacing a summoned general to taking a ladleful from the sea for Wu Junji, whereas the same loss can endanger a Golden Dragon ruler 46.
• Dependent on achievement: Before his great oath, his fortune requires achievements to set it in motion; possessing it does not automatically let him use it freely 29.
• Resistance to theft: Demons cannot simply seize it. They attempt to make it spill by frightening, humiliating, or torturing him, but fail while his resolve remains firm 28 31.
• Heavenly protection: Demons fear that killing a Human Emperor will bring fortune's retaliation and heavenly lightning. Wu Junji deliberately exploits this danger 31 32.
• Transferable reward: Can give away small portions of fortune, as he does to White King to secure goodwill 32.

General Summoning and Puppet Control

• Chen Yu's ability: Fortune sharing transforms Chen Yu into a puppet Wu Junji can direct, with exceptional durability supplied by fortune 26.
• Combat limitation: The puppet's effectiveness depends on Wu Junji's ability to think and control it, rather than durability alone 26.
• Reversible control: Withdrawing his fortune releases Chen Yu from immediate puppet control 27.
• Permanent replacement: Severing the underlying fate branch removes the summoning bond permanently and consumes fortune 46.
• Li Jiu's preparation: Watches Li Jiu practise punches and saber techniques to improve their mutual understanding; the new partner's ability is not shown as activated in the supplied account 47.

Supernatural Perception

• Heavenly eye: Activates unconsciously after Jixia Academy's destruction 39.
• Thought reading: Reads Chen Yu's thoughts at Minglu Academy, discovering his plan to serve for thirteen years before dying from meteorite exposure 50.
• Fate-thread manipulation: Learns from Emperor Zhou how the Jade Seal exposes the threads linking imperial figures and their summoned generals 46.

Scholarship and Statecraft

• Encyclopedia compilation: Created the Peaceful People's Encyclopedia, covering astronomy, geography, medicine, agriculture, craftsmanship, commerce, law, and major literary and philosophical traditions 5.
• Reconstruction: Begins writing the encyclopedia again at Jixia Academy, producing a ten-thousand-character opening despite strain on his wrists 30.
• Long-term planning: Presents Emperor Zhou with three five-year plans 21.
• Political manipulation: Exploits the Demon Heirs' pride, greed, and uncertain understanding of royal authority to turn them against Jixia Academy's demons 32 33.
• Demon-contract research: Proposes using Human Emperor Fortune through a seal-like conduit to create contracted demons with shorter development periods. His first attempt with Turtle Thirteen fails 39.

Martial Training and Physical Limits

• Poor constitution: Premature birth leaves him chronically frail; improved nutrition does not give him Wu Junzheng's physical aptitude 6.
• Previous-life experience: Learned rough street fighting and later orthodox martial arts, but reached only an average level because of illness and a poor foundation 47.
• Persistence: Insists on training despite pain and Emperor Zhou's objections. After a month of stretching, improves from an eighty-degree leg spread to a full 180-degree split 47.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Meteorite die pendant — Made from the meteorite he requested, with a gold-patterned dark bird design 16.
• Meteorite belt — Commissioned for Emperor Zhou with the intention of preventing him from fathering more sons. Emperor Zhou promises to wear it daily 15 16 25.
• Deputy Imperial Seal — A gift from Emperor Zhou that Wu Junji explicitly says he likes 45.
• Demon Seal — Carves a jade seal and later takes his little Demon Seal to Minglu Academy; the supplied account does not establish a successful demon contract 39 47.
• Porcelain shard — Emperor Zhou retrieves it and promises to replace it with a dagger 44.
• Four-clawed dragon robes — Uses dragon-patterned clothing to assert his status and discourage ridicule 7.

Relationships

• Wu Bing / Emperor Zhou — His father and birth parent. Formerly the principal source of his suffering; in the reborn life, personally raises him, teaches him imperial secrets, and violently defends him 1 6 36 46.
• 88 — His system companion, present through his previous lifetime. Favors its host but is disturbed by his methods of revenge; its incomplete sealing of his memories contributes to his frustration after rebirth 15 28 47.
• Chen Yu — Former study companion and betrayer; initially his summoned general after rebirth. Wu Junji severs their bond, but later permits him to remain nearby after learning of his limited remaining lifespan 5 26 46 50.
• Wu Junzheng — Younger brother and succession rival, born on the same day. Fears Wu Junji's former-life achievements, yet protects and tends to him during the abuse at Jixia Academy 5 17 28.
• Retired Emperor — Grandfather who favors Wu Junzheng, openly dislikes Wu Junji, and questions his suitability as crown prince 14 15.
• Empress Dowager — Recognizes him as resembling Wu Bing at birth and initially orders his care, but later joins the Retired Emperor in favoring Wu Junzheng 1 14.
• Chen Yang — Military commander who supports his appointment and tells Chen Jin that his allegiance lies with the Crown Prince rather than her future children's ambitions 6 14.
• Matron Wang / Nanny Wang — Caregiver who resents the imperial elders' treatment of him and reports it to Emperor Zhou 14.
• Qian Deli / Eunuch Qian — Attendant entrusted with him as an infant. Emperor Zhou later reveals that he was killed for betraying the Crown Prince 1 44.
• Li Gong — Emperor Zhou's summoned general and a formidable former-life opponent. Wu Junji admires his loyalty and remembers the respect he showed him upon his arrival in Chang'an 44.
• Li Jiu — Chosen replacement summoned general and personal attendant; helps with his martial training 45 47.
• Ruan Yuan — Former teacher who refused to help him in his previous life; later appeals unsuccessfully for mercy during Jixia Academy's destruction 21 36 37.
• Ruan Zhizhi — Wife in his previous life, when their marriage was bitterly hostile. He avoids her upon meeting her again as a child 41.
• Yu Sheng — Scholar appointed as his teacher after Jixia Academy's destruction 39.
• White King — Demon heir whom Wu Junji wins over with fortune and displays of authority, turning him into an enthusiastic executor of his commands 32 33.
• Turtle Thirteen — Pet turtle selected as the first subject of his demon-contract experiment 39.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Securing the Crown Prince's Position

• Becomes crown prince under Great Zhou's rule favoring appointment of the eldest legitimate son in infancy 5 6.
• Clashes with Emperor Zhou over degrading nicknames, animal costumes, and his desire for a separate palace 6 7 10.
• Leaves after being slapped, then negotiates reciprocal ground rules with his father. Emperor Zhou promises to rebuild Tianqian Palace as his residence 10 13.
• Faces resistance to his General Summoning ceremony after Wu Junzheng is treated as the generation's sole Flood Dragon. Offers to perform the ritual under Emperor Zhou's guidance despite the court's refusal 16 17.

Jixia Academy

• Agrees to attend because his enrollment can cancel Great Zhou's debt equivalent to thirty-three gold mines and offer access to knowledge about demons 21.
• Is separated from Chen Yu and subjected to systematic abuse intended to steal his Human Emperor Fortune 27 28.
• Turns the Demon Heirs against the academy's demons by promising fortune, protection, and future advancement 31 32 33.
• Offers the Lord of Changbai Mountain a Demon Court arrangement and swears a binding oath to unite humans and demons 34.
• Is rescued by Emperor Zhou, whose forces destroy the academy and subsequently exterminate its teachers', students', and associated families 36 37 39.

Reorganizing His Power and Entering Minglu Academy

• Begins researching demon contracts and receives Yu Sheng as his new teacher 39.
• Chooses Li Jiu and removes Chen Yu's permanent summoning connection 45 46 47.
• Resumes physical training and departs for Minglu Academy with servants, supplies, his turtle, and the Demon Seal 47.
• Enters Black Six Class and allows Chen Yu to remain in his service after reading his intentions 50.

Notable Quotes

“I am the crown prince. A crown prince must have dignity.” 7

“If I receive none of their benefits, I accept none of their restraints!” 32

“Father, I love you.” 38