Cheng Ruxin
Martial Ascendancy: Winning the Campus Belle and Flexing My Way to the Top
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Cheng Ruxin (程如新) |
| Alias(es) | Young Master Cheng; Brother Xin 11 |
| Gender | Male 7 |
| Affiliation | Yucheng No. 1 High School, Class Five 7 49 |
| Occupation/Role | Student; martial arts prodigy; Luo Feixuan’s persistent suitor 7 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 7 7 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All twelve Spirit Meridians opened | 7 | Achieved during his first year of high school. Opening all twelve meridians marks entry into the Qi Refining Realm, though Cheng has not begun drawing in external qi because he intends to attend the Martial Arts Academy 19 23. |
Background / History
School Reputation
Cheng comes from a wealthy family and travels to and from school with a chauffeur. His martial arts teacher regularly presents him as an exemplary student: he opened twelve Spirit Meridians in his first year and secured guaranteed admission to a martial arts academy in his second year 7.
He also subdued a criminal on the street and handed the person over to the Law Enforcement Team. Although his admirers celebrate the incident, Cheng privately remembers the criminal as a weak, cowardly opponent 11 13.
Rivalry with Yu Bu’e
Cheng first approaches Yu Bu’e to demand that he stay away from Luo Feixuan. His elaborate threat about a “demon” sealed inside his heart fails to intimidate Yu, who instead points out flaws in his wording. Luo then publicly acts as Yu’s doting girlfriend and tells Cheng that they are not close, despite his insistence that they grew up together 7 8.
After seeing Yu’s improved Meridian-Opening Fist, Cheng acknowledges its quality but declares that Yu is only qualified to serve as his “backdrop.” Expecting the school’s upcoming commendation ceremony to recognize his arrest of a criminal, he dresses in a suit and invites Luo to accept the honor alongside him. She rejects him, and the ceremony instead honors Yu for helping kill a Two-Stripe Demon Beast 11 12 13.
When Yu later carries a demon beast’s corpse around campus, Cheng accuses him of showing off. Seeing that Luo enjoys Yu’s behavior, Cheng arranges to obtain a fresh corpse of his own. His smaller Spotted Blaze draws unfavorable comparisons, while Yu’s explanation of its characteristics wins the crowd’s admiration. Luo dismisses Cheng as a copycat 22 25 26.
Brilliant Star Pavilion Auction
At the Brilliant Star Pavilion, Cheng objects to Yu attending as Luo’s guest and accuses him of living off women. Manager Wang nevertheless admits Yu. Inside, Cheng becomes more interested in recording one of Yu’s dramatic retorts for future use than in continuing their argument 45 46.
Zhai Zhili attempts to recruit Cheng into an alliance against Yu, but Cheng refuses, saying that he dislikes Yu while finding Zhai even more disgusting. The encounter prompts him to wonder whether Luo and Yu view him the same way he views Zhai 46.
During the auction, Cheng purchases a Lesser Soul-Returning Pill and a talisman. Despite his rivalry with Yu, he offers to join Chen Sinian and Luo as guarantors for Yu’s bid on Hundred Demons Frolic. He later rebukes Yu for embarrassing their school by admitting he lacks the cash, but defends him when Zhai mocks his orphanhood 48 49.
Appearance
Cheng is approximately six feet one inch tall, with carefully styled short hair. His partly zipped school uniform emphasizes his broad shoulders, while thin silver-framed glasses give him a scholarly appearance 7.
- Lensless glasses: Frequently adjusts or removes them while delivering dramatic lines 7.
- Formal attire: Changes into a handsome suit and flashy bow tie for the commendation ceremony he expects to headline 12.
Personality
Cheng is theatrical, self-important, and eager to impress Luo Feixuan. He frames ordinary confrontations as grand declarations, invoking a sealed inner demon, the entitlement of the strong to a beautiful partner, and even “the love of a god.” Yu considers him bizarre rather than fundamentally bad 7 8 13.
His enthusiasm is not limited to courtship. During a downpour, he runs into the rain, spreads his arms, spins, and proclaims that he can feel “elemental resonance.” He also openly asks to copy Yu’s protagonist-versus-NPC retort because he thinks it sounds impressive 38 46.
Although jealous and status-conscious, Cheng will not automatically side with anyone who opposes Yu. His rejection of Zhai, willingness to guarantee Yu’s purchase, and defense against insults show limits to his hostility. He also displays self-doubt when he considers how unpleasant he might appear to others 46 48 49.
Abilities & Skills
Martial Arts Talent
- Opened all twelve Spirit Meridians during his first year of high school and earned guaranteed academy admission in his second year 7.
- Successfully subdued a street criminal, though the opponent was weak by Cheng’s own assessment 11 13.
- Has not learned another Qi-Guiding Art, preserving his eligibility for the Martial Arts Academy 23.
- Recognizes that a Shapeshifting Monster would vastly exceed his current strength 13.
Body Tempering
- Luo identifies Cheng among the early meridian-opening students who pursue body tempering rather than external qi absorption while preparing for academy entry 23.
- Their preparation uses Body Tempering Martial Arts and medicinal baths; Cheng’s specific technique is not named 23.
Equipment / Items
- Lesser Soul-Returning Pill — Fifth-grade spiritual pill purchased for two million yuan at the Brilliant Star Pavilion auction 48.
- Unnamed talisman — Purchased for six million yuan after Luo’s bidding encouraged him to compete 48.
- Spotted Blaze corpse — Fresh demon beast corpse obtained to imitate Yu’s campus display. Cheng describes it as a Two-Stripe Demon Beast; it is not established that he killed it himself 22 25.
- Silver-framed lensless glasses — Part of his school appearance and dramatic posturing 7.
Relationships
- Luo Feixuan — Childhood acquaintance and unrequited romantic interest. She repeatedly rejects his familiar forms of address, invitations, and attempts to impress her 8 12 13 26.
- Yu Bu’e — Schoolmate and romantic rival. Cheng resents Yu’s closeness to Luo but acknowledges his fist technique and later supports him against Zhai at the auction 11 46 48 49.
- Zhai Zhili — Rejected prospective ally. Cheng refuses to cooperate against Yu, competes with him in bidding, and counters his insults 46 48 49.
- Wu Yang — Yu’s friend, who mocks Cheng’s self-promotion and calls him “Boiling Sheep” after Luo rejects his corpse display 13 25 26.
- Chen Sinian — Fellow student who joins Cheng and Luo in offering financial guarantees for Yu’s auction bid 48.
Notable Quotes
“Luo Feixuan! Do you know whose love you’ve rejected? The love of a god!” 13
“I don’t like him, but you disgust me even more. Besides, you must have heard the saying: tigers walk alone; only cattle and sheep flock together!” 46