Zhu Gaoyang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Reputation and the Torchworld Cult

Zhu Gaoyang was nurtured by Dragon Lord Dongting’s accumulated sword arts over twenty years. Before Yan Feiqing became the rising star of the Crane and Teal Register, Zhu had already established himself as the preceding generation’s outstanding figure 19 32.

While investigating the Torchworld Cult’s mountain valley, he unexpectedly encountered three supreme grandmasters. He killed one purple-robed opponent but suffered grave injuries. Rather than abandon the operation, he remained concealed and infiltrated the captives’ arena as Zhang Siche 24 29 32.

Under this disguise, he befriended Pei Ye, lent him energy, and recounted Broken Chivalrous Bones, the story of Xi Wuchou. He also cultivated the expectation that “Zhu Gaoyang” would return from outside to rescue them, concealing his actual presence 22 24 26 29.

Failed Seizure of Qiongqi and Escape

Zhu’s plan was to release stored Sword Qi through an iron talisman carried by Pei Ye, draw the two remaining purple-robed men away from Qiongqi, and teleport the beast elsewhere for a one-on-one fight. His explanation that he lacked time to transport a third person was genuine, but he had concealed that his intended passenger was Qiongqi 27 29.

The plan failed when Qiongqi expelled its seed into Pei Ye’s abdomen. Zhu immediately switched targets and rescued Pei Ye, exposing his back to a palm strike and a sword thrust through his chest before teleporting them away 29.

Unable to walk, Zhu relied on Pei Ye to carry him west toward Fenghuai. They contacted Ming Qitian for help and attempted to evade pursuit by washing away their blood and changing clothes. When the purple-robed men caught them, Zhu wounded them with his sword and teleported again, exhausting nearly all his remaining strength 30 31 32.

Transformation and Survival

With the pursuers closing in, Zhu asked Pei Ye to infect him with dragon saliva so that he could fight in a mutated body. He entrusted Pei Ye with his possessions and sword, intending to protect his head with true qi long enough to intercept the enemy. During the transformation, however, the Immortal Lord acting through Pei Ye overwhelmed that protection 34.

Pei Ye subsequently reported that Zhu had died holding off their pursuers. Zhu had actually survived under the Immortal Lord’s control, retaining only a small remnant of self-awareness while being compelled to search for the Lord’s target 35 40.

An unnamed old man briefly restored his clarity and showed him a vivid vision of slaughtering a household. The old man reconstructed Zhu’s human body, placed an unexplained “gift” inside him, and confined the spectral-blue substance to his heart. He then released it again, returning Zhu to his monstrous form and sending him toward Fenghuai 41.

At the County Office, Ming Qitian subdued Zhu with Heart-Slaying Glaze. Xing Zhi recognized him and pleaded for his life; Ming confirmed that his Mindscape Realm still existed. She pinned him to the ground with a true-qi-infused sword, leaving open the possibility that clearing and repairing his Mindscape Realm could awaken him 46 47. He remained under guard during the later attack on Fenghuai 49.

Appearance

• Human form: Tall, exceptionally handsome, and well-proportioned, with long hair and long, narrow eyes that crease into crescents when he smiles 29 30 33.
• Clothing: Wears a gray robe during the initial escape and later changes into an exquisite white outfit 29 31.
• Zhang Siche disguise: Uses a false face and a careless, unruly manner that contrasts with his usual composed bearing 22 29.
• Frost Wraith form: Develops sharp hands, fine scales along his jaw, golden slit pupils, and outward-growing scales and bone that cover his face like armor 34.
• Later mutation: Becomes so distorted that Xing Zhi cannot find any trace of his original appearance 47.

Personality

Zhu is proud, persistent, and unwilling to retreat merely to preserve his life. He continues opposing the Torchworld Cult after being critically wounded and identifies with Xi Wuchou’s refusal to yield even when death is the price. He explicitly describes this as pride rather than recklessness or sentimental devotion 24 32 34.

With Pei Ye, he is warm, teasing, and capable of acknowledging another swordsman’s talent. He praises Pei Ye’s technique sincerely, yet remains sensitive about his own dignity: even while unable to stand, he objects that their rescue message sounds too pathetic 31 33 34.

His compassion does not override his concern for the wider danger. He considers killing Pei Ye if the seed becomes uncontrollable, then rejects that solution when he concludes that the seed could simply change hosts and fall back into the cult’s hands 30 33.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Sword Qi

• Trained in the Sword Lineage’s extensive inherited sword arts; his weapon mastery greatly exceeds that of the purple-robed opponents despite their comparable cultivation realms 32.
• Even while critically injured and fighting with one arm, disarms a saber-wielding grandmaster and nearly reaches his throat 32.
• Stores a devastating eruption of Sword Qi in the iron talisman used to disrupt the cult’s ritual site 27 29.

Dragonlight Pierces the Dipper

• A lethal sword technique recorded in the Dragon-Tempering Scripture, ranked seventh in the Profound Scripture Division 32.
• Reputed to be among the fastest sword strikes under heaven; its cylindrical Sword Qi destroys a purple-robed opponent’s chest and abdomen 32.
• Fails to finish that opponent because his altered body lacks ordinary organs and begins closing the wound 32.

Luminous Spirit Illuminates the World, Unbound by Dust

• A teleportation art from Dragon Lord Dongting’s Doubting Dragon Scripture, also rendered as “Spirit’s Radiance Illuminates the World, Floating Dust Unbound” 26 32.
• Can transport someone a hundred li in a single breath 26.
• Requires longer preparation when transporting more people and places a severe strain on Zhu’s injured body 26 32.

Dragon-Seeking Classic

• Locates a stream ten li north of their route, allowing Zhu and Pei Ye to wash away their blood before continuing west 31.
• Supports their attempt to evade pursuit, but does not prevent the purple-robed men from finding them 31.

Heart-Pond Serpent-Raising Art

• A Dragon Lord Dongting technique with offensive and defensive applications within the Mindscape Realm 40.
• Manifests as a water serpent protecting Zhu’s sleeping self within a central pool 40.
• Preserves a fragment of his identity against Quail Head’s invasion, but cannot stop the Immortal Lord’s shadows from gradually penetrating the pool 40.

Disguise and Private Communication

• Conceals his identity as Zhang Siche and later supplies clothing and tools during the escape 29 31.
• Uses secret voice transmission to communicate with Pei Ye inside the captive arena 24.
• Activates Ming Qitian’s Sword Talisman to send and receive recorded messages 31 32.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword — A lower-first-grade weapon marked “Rhinoceros-Gleam Forge, Shen.” Slightly longer than Pei Ye’s original sword, with a supple blade likened to autumn water. Zhu leaves it to Pei Ye for self-defense 32 34.
• Scabbard — Handed to Pei Ye before Zhu’s transformation 34.
• Jade pendant — Holds Zhu’s stored belongings, which he retrieves through his abdominal cavity. He asks Pei Ye to return it to Dragon Lord Dongting; the person who brings it back may choose any two items inside 31 34.
• Iron talisman — Presented under the Zhang Siche disguise as an escape safeguard; actually releases the Sword Qi diversion central to Zhu’s plan 27 29.
• Medicinal pills — Initially improve his condition and help him stop bleeding, but become almost ineffective after his later injuries 29 32.
• Teleportation Talisman — Later used by Xing Zhi to evacuate herself, Pei Ye, and Ming Qitian from Qiongqi 39.

Relationships

• Pei Ye — Fellow escapee and friend. Zhu saves him from the ritual; Pei Ye carries and treats him afterward. Zhu entrusts him with his sword, belongings, and unrealized wish to become a Sword Master 29 32 34.
• Xing Zhi — Deeply concerned for him for both personal reasons and his importance to Dragon Lord Dongting. Searches relentlessly after his disappearance and pleads for his life when he returns as a Frost Wraith 35 46.
• Ming Qitian — Sought as a rescuer, then becomes the swordswoman who subdues his transformed body without killing him 31 46 47.
• His master — Unnamed in the supplied account. Zhu previously arranged that whoever returned his pendant could select two possessions as a reward 34.
• Black Chi — Immortal Hunter whose contract Zhu greatly desires. He offers Pei Ye a recommendation to the Sword Lineage in exchange, but is refused 30.
• Supreme One True Dragon Immortal Lord — Possessor who exploits Zhu’s transformed body as a searching host; Zhu struggles to oppose the imposed commands 34 40.
• Unnamed old man — Temporarily restores Zhu’s clarity and human form, but forces an unexplained intervention on him before releasing him under the Immortal Lord’s control again 41.

Notable Quotes

“Nothing could force him to retreat, not even his own life.”
— Explaining Xi Wuchou’s pride before identifying himself with it 34

“Come on, Pei Ye. You did very well just now. It’s my turn.” 34

“Having an Immortal Hunter was actually only my second greatest wish. My greatest wish was to become a Sword Master. … I’ll leave that wish to you.” 34