Zhou Yong

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Dongfang Leng’s Youngest Disciple

Zhou Yong grew up alongside Li Dalong as Dongfang Leng’s youngest disciple and Li Dalong’s third junior brother. After their second fellow disciple died and Li Dalong was confined to the rear mountain, Zhou Yong remained at their master’s side and became the Righteous Qi Sect’s Dao Son 6 7.

With Dongfang Leng’s permission, he visited Li Dalong carrying a Dantian-Replenishing Pill, Qi-Gathering Pills, and spirit fruits. He worried that his senior brother resented his appointment and delayed visit, but Li Dalong reassured him and urged him to help their master 6.

Zhou Yong subsequently knelt before Dongfang Leng and pleaded for Li Dalong’s release. His master explained that he first needed enough strength and prestige to restore the sect and command its members’ support. Dongfang Leng also entrusted him with investigating reports of Demon Race and demonic-path activity 7.

Succession and the Vassal Rebellion

When the Blood Devil Race and other hostile forces threatened the sect, Dongfang Leng abdicated in Zhou Yong’s favor. Zhou Yong accepted the founding patriarch’s Dharma Ring and received the elders’ formal recognition as sect master 9.

His appointment did not give him effective control over the sect. Stronger elders obstructed his reforms, subordinate factions withheld tribute, and expenditure exceeded income. Administrative work and the aftermath of the Blood Demon battle left him little time to cultivate. Li Dalong responded by installing a secret Spirit-Gathering Array in his cultivation chamber 14 15.

Several years later, five vassal sects united under Shi Hao and ambushed the Righteous Qi Hall. Zhou Yong shielded the surviving elders but was badly wounded when Shi Hao knocked away his flying sword. Dongfang Leng intervened, exhausting his remaining lifespan with a secret art; Li Dalong then killed the rebel leaders, while Zhou Yong and the surviving elders eliminated the remaining attackers 15 16 17.

After Dongfang Leng’s death, Zhou Yong devoted three years to cultivation. He later offered to yield leadership to Li Dalong, whom he considered better suited to fulfill their master’s final wish. Li Dalong refused, revealed that he was the mysterious expert who had repeatedly saved the sect, and promised to support Zhou Yong’s leadership 17 18.

Defense and Recovery of the Sect

During the Spirit Monkey Demon Sage’s invasion, Zhou Yong directed the elders and fought stray Golden Core demons. Li Dalong’s stored Sword Formula saved him from the sage’s staff, and Li Dalong subsequently killed the invading leader. Zhou Yong organized the pursuit of the retreating demons 19 20.

The casualties strengthened his resolve to accelerate disciple training and improve intelligence gathering. Under his leadership, the sect’s members became more united and diligent, and the Righteous Qi Sect began developing into a major power 20.

Marriage and Children

Zhou Yong accepted Cloudmist Palace’s proposal for a marriage alliance with Princess Yun Yao. He fell in love with her at their first meeting, proposed directly in the Righteous Qi Hall, and grew closer to her through cultivation discussions and walks around the sect 22.

Their wedding became the target of a coup by Nangong Jing, Nangong Xun, and several elders. A protective Sword Formula stopped the first attack. Zhou Yong protected Yun Yao, ordered the sect sealed, and directed disciples to safeguard the guests and capture the traitors. Li Dalong killed the rebels from the forbidden grounds, allowing the ceremony to resume 23 24.

Their daughter, Zhou Xue, was born a year later. When Yun Yao proposed sending the mischievous four-year-old to Cloudmist Palace, Zhou Yong instead arranged for Li Dalong to teach her during the day so she could return home each evening 24 25 26.

After their son Zhou Tianlong was born, Zhou Yong ordered three days of celebrations and increased disciple stipends. He raised Tianlong more strictly than Xue and groomed him as a future sect master. When Tianlong turned five, he approached Li Dalong about the boy’s cultivation education at Yun Yao’s request 30 31.

External Threats and Expansion

Zhou Yong rejected the Dao Alliance’s demand that his sect join it, refusing to surrender its independence under threat. After consulting Li Dalong about Feng Jinglei, he remained at the sect while his senior brother confronted and killed the alliance leader. The resulting influx of visitors became so large that Zhou Yong delegated their reception to the External Affairs Hall master 27 28 29.

By the time he reached Spirit Transformation, the sect’s disciple population had nearly doubled despite restricted recruitment and higher entry requirements 31.

As the Heaven-Severing Church expanded, neighboring factions sought the Righteous Qi Sect’s protection. Zhou Yong recalled subordinate factions and placed the sect on alert, then personally confronted deputy church leader Jingbian Shihuang outside its protective formation. Li Dalong ultimately destroyed the attacking force 33 34 36.

Search for Zhou Xue and Grave Injury

After Zhang Yang and Liu Xiaobo reported Zhou Xue missing, Zhou Yong led several elders into the Demon Beast Forest. He seized her pursuer, Flame Tiger, and forced him to reveal that she had jumped into Misty Canyon. Despite the elders’ objections, Zhou Yong intended to descend into the canyon himself 40 41.

The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage interrupted the search and attacked the party. Zhou Yong stayed behind to cover the elders’ escape, suffering internal injuries while intercepting attacks. He then activated a forbidden technique and repeatedly used the force of the sage’s blows to propel himself toward the forest boundary 41 42.

As he escaped the forest, a Demon Blade severed his left arm at the shoulder and hurled him into a mountain, shattering his bones. He swallowed healing and spiritual-power replenishment pills before losing consciousness 43.

Li Dalong found him barely alive, administered a Supreme-Grade Healing Pill, and repaired damaged meridians and organs with spiritual power. Back at the Righteous Qi Hall, he established a Spirit-Gathering Array and assigned trusted elders to sustain Zhou Yong’s recovery. His life was secured, but his injuries and use of the forbidden technique required further recuperation 44.

Appearance

• Build and features: Tall and powerfully built, with handsome features and a dignified bearing 6.
• Clothing: Wears brocade robes at his first appearance 6.
• Changes with leadership: His initially youthful face becomes more mature, though early sect-master duties leave him visibly exhausted 13.
• Major injury: Loses his left arm at the shoulder to the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage’s Demon Blade; no restoration is documented in the supplied chapters 43 44.

Personality

Zhou Yong becomes markedly steadier after Li Dalong’s punishment, shedding his earlier rashness. Dongfang Leng praises his orderly handling of affairs and gentle treatment of others, which make him well liked within the sect 7.

He regards leadership as responsibility rather than personal power. His willingness to offer the sect-master position to Li Dalong reflects both concern for the sect’s future and a tendency to underestimate his own suitability. He also treats fallen disciples and elders as family and stays behind against a stronger enemy to protect his subordinates 18 20 42.

His affection for his family can override caution. He spoils Zhou Xue, resists sending her away, and insists on searching a notoriously dangerous canyon for her. With Zhou Tianlong, he consciously adopts stricter expectations after recognizing the consequences of indulging his daughter 24 30 41.

Abilities & Skills

Sword Combat and Sword Flight

Zhou Yong uses flying swords for ranged attacks, close combat, and travel 15 24 41.

• Sends sword light at enemies and intercepts attacks aimed at his companions 41 42.
• Combines a flying sword, hand seals, and spiritual power to produce a dazzling offensive pillar of light 34.
• His ordinary sword attacks cannot overcome opponents separated from him by a major cultivation realm, as shown against the Spirit Monkey Demon Sage and Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage 19 41.

Spiritual Power and Defensive Barriers

He can shape spiritual power into shields and offensive palm force 15 19.

• Creates an enormous golden dome that initially blocks the rebel sect masters’ attacks and shelters surviving elders 15.
• Forms an invisible spiritual shield around himself 19.
• Uses palm strikes to meet incoming attacks and harness their shock waves for escape, at the cost of further internal injuries 42.

Divine Sense

Zhou Yong uses divine sense for tracking, investigation, and communication 40 41.

• Detects voices ten li away while searching for Zhou Xue 40.
• Transmits retreat instructions directly to the elders 41.
• Misty Canyon’s mist weakens his divine sense after a little over two hundred meters of penetration 40.

Forbidden Strength-Enhancing Technique

An unnamed sect forbidden technique forcibly increases his strength 42 44.

• Doubles his strength during his escape from the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage 42.
• Compresses and accelerates spiritual power through his meridians, causing severe pain in his meridians and dantian 42.
• Has a limited duration; its approaching expiry leaves him in danger as his reserves run out 42.
• Contributes to his need for prolonged recovery after the battle 44.

Sect Administration and Military Command

Zhou Yong manages reforms, diplomacy, recruitment, intelligence gathering, and battlefield coordination 14 20 22 31.

• Forms the marriage alliance with Cloudmist Palace 22.
• Orders defensive preparations and recalls subordinate factions when an invasion approaches 34.
• Organizes pursuit of defeated invaders and prioritizes faster disciple training after heavy casualties 20.
• Restricts recruitment and raises admission standards even while the sect’s membership expands 31.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Founding Patriarch’s Dharma Ring — Passed to him by Dongfang Leng when he becomes sect master 9.
• Spirit swords — Wields a supreme-grade spirit sword during the Spirit Monkey Demon Sage’s invasion and a top-grade spirit sword against Scarlet Radiance. He also carries a high-grade backup sword in his Storage Ring 19 41 42.
• Spirit-Gathering Array — Installed in his cultivation chamber by Li Dalong, with a control jade slip and supreme-grade spirit stones 15.
• Protective Sword Formulas — Stored within his body by Li Dalong; each has power equivalent to a late Out-of-Body cultivator’s full-strength strike. They save him during the demon invasion and wedding ambush 18 19 23.
• Marrow-Cleansing Pill — Given by Li Dalong to improve his cultivation aptitude by cleansing marrow and bones 18.
• Righteous Qi Formula — Received from Li Dalong before his wedding 23.
• Exquisite Immortal Scripture — Received as a wedding gift for Yun Yao; Li Dalong explicitly forbids anyone else from cultivating or distributing it 23.
• Healing and spiritual-power replenishment pills — Taken after his catastrophic injury, keeping him alive until Li Dalong finds him 43 44.

Relationships

• Li Dalong — Eldest senior brother, childhood companion, and principal supporter. Zhou Yong seeks his advice and repeatedly asks him to return from seclusion; Li Dalong supplies cultivation resources and protects his life 6 18 23 44.
• Dongfang Leng — Master and predecessor. Chooses Zhou Yong as Dao Son and successor, entrusting him with restoring the sect 7 9.
• Yun Yao — Wife and princess of Cloudmist Palace. Their political marriage develops into mutual affection; they share decisions about their children’s education 22 24 25 30.
• Zhou Xue — Beloved daughter. His indulgence causes disagreements over her upbringing, and her disappearance leads him to risk his life in the Demon Beast Forest 24 40 41.
• Zhou Tianlong — Son and intended future sect master. Zhou Yong holds him to stricter expectations and seeks strong cultivation guidance for him 30 31.
• Shuang Xue — Cloudmist Palace’s grand elder, who proposes and helps arrange his marriage to Yun Yao 22.
• Nangong Jing and Nangong Xun — Rebellious elders who attempt to overthrow him during his wedding 23.
• Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage — Mahayana-realm enemy who attacks his rescue party and inflicts his near-fatal injuries 41 42 43.

Notable Quotes

“The position of sect master is not about power, but responsibility.” 18

“If others do not offend me, I will not offend them. If others offend me, I will surely strike back!” 28

“Xue’er’s cultivation is low, and we don’t even know whether she’s alive. I must find her and bring her back.” 41