Hongfu

Biodata

Background / History

Meeting Lin He

Hongfu first encounters Lin He while traveling with her disciple, Dong Xuan'er. Drawn by the spiritual fluctuations of a battle, she questions him about a Magic Treasure aura she detected nearby. Lin He conceals his possession of the treasure and attributes his victory to an array. Hongfu drops the questioning but observes that even she would need some effort to break his formation 43.

Initially unwilling to linger, she changes her mind after Lin He presents a jade box containing a spirit herb suitable for her needs. At the Yellow Maple Valley Market, he offers her two five-hundred-year-old jade spirit flowers in exchange for a cultivation art. She had been searching for seven- or eight-hundred-year-old herbs for pill refinement, but accepts the younger flowers as workable substitutes 43 44.

Lin He chooses the incomplete Star Refining Golden Origin Art despite her warnings about its demanding cultivation conditions. Since the art alone is worth less than the herbs, Hongfu allows him to choose three additional items: a spirit beast formation jade slip and two Foundation Establishment pill recipes. She also directs him to Madam Xu when he asks about a master artifact refiner 44 45.

Yan Family Treasure Competition

As Yellow Maple Valley's only female Core Formation cultivator, Hongfu later summons Lin He and asks him to accompany Dong Xuan'er to the Yan Family's Treasure Competition. She intends the trip to broaden her disciple's experience and explicitly orders Dong Xuan'er to follow his instructions rather than rely on her Bewitching Art 66.

The assignment establishes Lin He as Dong Xuan'er's protector. During the trip, he invokes Hongfu's name while interrupting Tian Buque's attempt to take Dong Xuan'er away through the Soul Bewitching Art 67.

Golden Drum Plains War

Hongfu joins Li Huayuan in supporting Yellow Maple Valley's disciples at the front. When the Ghost Spirit Sect threatens retaliation against Lin He, she lends him the Flowing Cloud Banner, an Ancient Treasure intended for escape. She accepts Dong Xuan'er's warning that enemy Foundation Establishment cultivators might receive level-five spirit beasts and agrees that additional precautions are necessary 75 76 82 98.

When Old Monster Yan intervenes against Lin He, Hongfu confronts and gravely wounds him with her Five-Thunder Whip, allowing Lin He to finish him off. She subsequently helps prevent Meng Fan's escape by binding him with the whip; Lin He and Li Huayuan complete the attack 85 86.

Hongfu takes custody of Meng Fan's belongings until the three can divide them. During the distribution, she receives his short-sword Magic Treasure. She also participates in discussions over the Six Demonic Path Sects' demand that Lin He leave Foundation Establishment battles and fight Core Formation cultivators instead 86 87.

To strengthen Dong Xuan'er's protection, Hongfu gives Ape One the Coiling Dragon Staff. In the ensuing Core Formation melee, she intercepts Meng Liang's Ghost Hand before it reaches Lin He and engages him directly. Meng Liang eventually forces her back and escapes after the wider battle turns against his side 92 94 95.

Capture by Cloud Dew

After learning that the Joyful Union Sect has taken Dong Xuan'er, Hongfu rushes after her without waiting for support. Ancestor Linghu, Li Huayuan, and Lin He follow, only to discover that Cloud Dew Old Devil has captured Hongfu. Dong Xuan'er appears carrying her unconscious mother and refuses to surrender her 97 98.

Cloud Dew claims Hongfu as his woman and declares that she will join the Joyful Union Sect. Ancestor Linghu ultimately abandons the rescue rather than risk a disastrous escalation with another Nascent Soul cultivator. Cloud Dew departs with Dong Xuan'er and the still-unconscious Hongfu 98 100.

Afterward, Ancestor Linghu warns that Hongfu's own heart demon would kill her if she attempted Nascent Soul Formation 100.

Following Dong Xuan'er

When Hongfu next meets Lin He, her relationship with Dong Xuan'er has changed: the former obedient disciple now gives her orders. Hongfu follows Dong Xuan'er's instruction to help protect Lin He, keeping Meng Liang occupied before the combined group kills him 118.

Their cooperation ends when Dong Xuan'er demands that Lin He remain with her. Hongfu reluctantly joins Red Powder and Skeleton in trying to compel him, explaining that Dong Xuan'er is her only remaining reason to live and that she is acting for her daughter's cultivation path 118 119.

Hongfu fights Lin He, Nangong Wan, and their allies, but abandons the confrontation when she detects an approaching Nascent Soul cultivator. She urges Lin He to take Dong Xuan'er and escape. Wang Tiangu nevertheless intercepts them and overwhelms their combined attacks, badly damaging Hongfu's Five-Thunder Whip and Silver Blade 119.

Later, Wen Min questions Hongfu's departure from Yellow Maple Valley. Hongfu says she left to seek revenge against Yunlu without implicating the sect, though Wen Min remains suspicious. Lin He and Nangong Wan help deflect questions about Dong Xuan'er's identity, after which Hongfu leaves with her daughter 122.

During Cloud Dew's subsequent attack on Lin He's group, Hongfu and Dong Xuan'er warn that killing Lin He would leave Dong Xuan'er with a heart demon. Their intervention persuades Cloud Dew to turn against the Wang brothers to protect his daughter's cultivation 124.

Appearance

Hongfu appears to be in her thirties and is described as attractive, with a mature charm 43.

• Clothing: Red robes 43 66.
• Expression: Usually cold and unapproachable, with a faintly menacing air 43.
• Characteristic weapon: The Five-Thunder Whip, which she carries at her first appearance 43.

Personality

Hongfu is stern, strong-willed, and quick-tempered. Dong Xuan'er regards her decisions as nearly unchangeable, while Hongfu repeatedly warns her disciple against arrogance and overconfidence in charm techniques. Heartbreak in her youth left her with a dislike of handsome men, contributing to her initial coldness toward Lin He 43 66.

Her harsh manner does not prevent fair dealing. She acknowledges that the incomplete Star Refining Golden Origin Art is insufficient payment for Lin He's herbs and voluntarily adds three items to the exchange. As their relationship improves, she becomes warmer toward him and repeatedly intervenes on his behalf 44 66 82 94.

Dong Xuan'er is her greatest emotional vulnerability. Hongfu indulges her while maintaining strict discipline, equips her generously, and reacts to her disappearance with immediate, reckless pursuit. After her capture by Cloud Dew, that devotion leads her to obey Dong Xuan'er even when doing so means fighting former allies 43 79 97 118 119.

Hongfu openly loathes Red Powder and Skeleton. References to Cloud Dew can provoke her into an uncontrolled rage, requiring Li Huayuan to restrain her during negotiations 86 119.

Abilities & Skills

Late Core Formation Cultivation

Hongfu is already a late Core Formation cultivator when introduced; no subsequent realm advancement is documented 43.

• Overpowers and gravely wounds the early Core Formation cultivator Old Monster Yan 85.
• Exchanges attacks with the late Core Formation cultivator Meng Liang 94 95.
• Pressures Lin He, Lan Chou, and Nangong Wan together, though she initially seeks to avoid seriously injuring them 119.
• Remains unable to withstand Wang Tiangu's Nascent Soul-level Ghost Hand, even with allied support 119.

Lightning Techniques

Her principal combat techniques center on the Five-Thunder Whip and silver lightning 85 119.

• Direct attacks: Delivers rapid lashes and powerful lightning bolts 85 119.
• Restraint: Binds Meng Fan to prevent his escape 86.
• Lightning movement: Envelops herself in lightning from the whip and rapidly departs in pursuit of Dong Xuan'er 97.
• Countermeasures: Meng Fan's Thunder Crystal Pearl absorbs the whip's lightning and weakens it enough for him to break free 86.

Defensive and Disorienting Techniques

• Silver Light Protective Shield: Blocks Lin He's fist shadows and retaliates with silver lightning 119.
• Silver Bell: Disorients Lin He and Nangong Wan; Lin He recovers quickly with help from the Soul-Congealing Pearl 119.
• Spiritual perception: Detects a residual Magic Treasure aura and later senses an approaching Nascent Soul cultivator 43 119.
• Soundproofing Barrier: Isolates her private trade discussion with Lin He 44.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Five-Thunder Whip — Her life-bound Magic Treasure. Produces silver lightning, binds opponents, and supports rapid movement. Its damage under Wang Tiangu's attack threatens her with grievous injury 86 97 119.
• Silver Blade — Used alongside the whip against Wang Tiangu; badly damaged by his Ghost Hand 119.
• Silver Bell — Disorienting treasure used against Lin He and Nangong Wan 119.
• Ring — Blocks an attack from Lin He's early Core Formation warrior puppet 119.
• Short-sword Magic Treasure — Received during the division of Meng Fan's belongings 87.
• Flowing Cloud Banner — Escape-oriented Ancient Treasure found in ancient cultivator ruins and lent to Lin He 82 98.
• Coiling Dragon Staff — Supreme-grade top-tier magical artifact given to Ape One to support Dong Xuan'er's protection 92.
• Jade ring and red flying sword — Defensive and offensive artifacts supplied to Dong Xuan'er, allowing her to suppress a middle Foundation Establishment opponent despite being at early Foundation Establishment 79.

Relationships

• Dong Xuan'er — Daughter and disciple. Their relationship shifts from strict master and obedient student to Hongfu following Dong Xuan'er's orders; protecting her remains Hongfu's overriding concern 43 66 118 119.
• Cloud Dew Old Devil / Yunlu — Dong Xuan'er's father. Hongfu reacts furiously to his name; he later captures her and claims she will join the Joyful Union Sect. She subsequently states that she seeks revenge against him 66 86 98 122.
• Lin He — Martial nephew, trading partner, and wartime ally. She lends him treasures and protects him in battle, but later reluctantly opposes him for Dong Xuan'er's sake 44 82 94 119.
• Li Huayuan — Junior martial brother and fellow wartime defender of Yellow Maple Valley. He attempts to rescue her after her capture and reluctantly accepts Ancestor Linghu's withdrawal 86 97 100.
• Ancestor Linghu — Yellow Maple Valley's Nascent Soul protector. Leads the unsuccessful rescue and identifies her heart demon as a fatal obstacle to Nascent Soul Formation 98 100.
• Nangong Wan — Fellow Core Formation cultivator and wartime ally, later an opponent when Hongfu tries to make Lin He accompany Dong Xuan'er 76 118 119.
• Red Powder and Skeleton — Joyful Union Sect cultivators whom she despises but later cooperates with for Dong Xuan'er's sake 86 118 119.
• Ape One — Lin He's spirit beast and Dong Xuan'er's assigned protector. Receives the Coiling Dragon Staff from Hongfu 92.

Notable Quotes

“You think you have any right to say that? Didn't you rely on your Core Formation cultivation to attack a middle Foundation Establishment cultivator earlier? Now that it's your turn, you don't like it?” 85

“Martial Nephew Lin, if I had a choice, I wouldn't want to do this either. But Xuan'er is now my only reason to keep living. For the sake of her cultivation path, I have no choice.” 119