Hillman

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Early Life and Transmigration

The original Hillman was taken in by Hogg's father and grew up alongside Hogg. Unmarried and without children, he treated Linley and Wharton as nephews and regarded Wushan Town's safety as his responsibility. He built the town's defenses and became Hogg's most trusted friend 1 15.

After dying in a truck accident, Wanghou awakens in Hillman's body. Recognizing the setting of Coiling Dragon, he remembers the tragedies awaiting the Baruch Clan and resolves to prevent them. His new life begins in autumn of year 9990 of the Yulan Calendar 1 2.

When the system offers Linley, Wharton, and Hogg as possible wards, he briefly considers choosing Hogg to prevent the family's suffering at its source. He ultimately selects Linley, believing that protecting the boy's future can also safeguard the people around him 2.

Strengthening Wushan Town

Hillman begins with Linley's swordsmanship, giving him a shortsword forged by Hogg and replacing blunt encouragement with precise instruction. He subsequently guides Linley's first experience of battle qi, administers a Body Tempering Pill, and teaches him to coat a blade with battle qi 1 2 3 6.

He also reorganizes the garrison, introducing optimized battle qi cultivation, spear drills, and five-man formations. Its coordination and combat strength improve by more than 30% after two days. He commissions twenty refined-iron spears and twenty daggers from Thomson 4.

After discovering that an Ironclad Berserk Bear was deliberately driven berserk, Hillman and Hogg suspect a probe by the Radiant Church. Hillman advocates opening trade routes so Wushan Town can sustain better defenses; Hogg establishes a merchant association and expands trade with nearby towns and Fenlai City 7 8.

Preventing Foreseen Disasters

Hillman intercepts a seventh-level gray-robed mage who has seized the Shadow Diamond, killing both the mage and his Velociraptor before the danger reaches Wushan Town 10.

He later intervenes when Rudy and Tilon pursue a pregnant Shadowmouse couple near the town. Rather than fight the two Saint-level pursuers directly, he claims to represent Beirut and combines Earth Pulsation with a feigned Deity-level aura to drive them away. The intervention protects the couple, secures Bebe's full-term birth, and prevents the surrounding conflict from destroying Wushan Town 12.

When Doehring Cowart appears, Hillman recognizes him and encourages him to become Linley's magic teacher. He also reveals Clayde's role in Lina's abduction to Hogg, promises to pursue her rescue after attaining Saint-level strength, and begins personally training Hogg 13 15.

Training in the Magical Beast Forest

After accompanying Linley to his magic aptitude test and seeing him accepted by Ernst Academy, Hillman leaves for the Magical Beast Forest. He intends to overcome the Saint-level bottleneck through life-and-death combat while Linley studies and Hogg's household remains in the royal city 17 18 19.

His early battles include a Shadowstripe Leopard, a Rock Armor Giant Rhino, and a ninth-level Berserk Bear. In Mist Canyon, he kills a Winged Bird Dragon but is nearly killed by the territorial Spined Iron-Armored Dragon. He escapes the canyon and recovers before returning to challenge it 19 21 23 25 26 27.

Repeated fights gradually become sparring between companions. The dragon begins sparing Hillman, protects him from falling rubble, and catches him when he falls into a ravine. Five months of training sharpen his tactics, though he still needs another opportunity to reach Saint-level 28 29.

After barely surviving the collateral damage of a battle between two Saint-level beasts, Hillman finds shelter and achieves his breakthrough through Earth Pulsation. He returns to Mist Canyon, defends it against the Gold-Eater Demon Ape, and studies the earth profound mysteries until he attains godhood 30 31 32 33 39.

Return and the Baruch Clan's Revival

Hillman returns after two years away, accompanied by the dragon, now called Iron Armor. Following his reunion with Hogg, he visits Wushan Town, where his name has been engraved on a bluestone stele honoring those who left to make their way in the world 40 41 42.

He asks Iron Armor to donate blood for the Baruch Clan's awakening, explicitly promising not to pressure it if it refuses. The dragon agrees. With its blood and Blue Heart Grass, Hogg successfully undergoes Dragonform transformation 43.

Hillman later witnesses Wharton's awakening and reassures him that training will help him control his forms. When Linley returns home, Hogg explains Hillman's sacrifices and their role in the family's improved circumstances, deepening Linley's gratitude toward his uncle 46 49 50.

Appearance

Hillman has a tall, straight figure and a muscular build developed through martial training 33 35.

• Battle qi: Initially described as pale silver; later earth-focused cultivation produces an earthen-yellow glow 7 12 24.
• Clothing: Wears robes during his travels and cultivation, frequently torn or bloodstained in forest battles 19 29 38.

Personality

The original Hillman was rough, forthright, and poor with words. After Wanghou's arrival, his instruction becomes noticeably more patient and meticulous. Hogg recognizes this change in his careful planning, garrison reforms, and attention to Linley's development 1 5.

Hillman combines demanding training with concern for his students' limits. He threatens to expel idle guards but repeatedly explains difficult cultivation instructions without losing patience. For Linley, he adjusts training to protect a growing child's body rather than treating exhaustion as progress 4 9.

His loyalty to the Baruch Clan drives his pursuit of strength, but he does not equate protection with keeping others sheltered. He allows Linley controlled exposure to real combat and undertakes dangerous training himself. His friendship with Iron Armor also rests on mutual respect: when he needs its blood, he asks rather than takes it 6 18 28 43.

Abilities & Skills

Guardian System

The system links Hillman's advancement to protecting his chosen ward and changing the surrounding course of events 2 3 12.

• Provides quests, threat detection, tactical recommendations, cultivation rewards, skills, and items 3 10 23 33.
• Rewards successful instruction and protection, not only combat victories 2 3 4.
• Can impose failure penalties, including a one-level cultivation loss for failing the Bloodline Initiation quest 3.

Foreknowledge

Wanghou's memories of Coiling Dragon help Hillman identify threats and opportunities before others understand them 1.

• Recognizes the significance of the Shadow Diamond incident, Bebe's parents, and Doehring Cowart 3 10 12 13.
• Knows Clayde's connection to Lina's abduction but initially withholds it to prevent Hogg from seeking suicidal revenge 15.
• Uses Beirut's name as a deterrent against stronger opponents 12.

Spear and Sword Techniques

Hillman combines accurate targeting with battle qi reinforcement and attacks on vulnerable areas 4 7 19.

• Precision Shooting: Maximum-proficiency system skill incorporated into his spearwork to improve targeting 2 4.
• Whirling Slash: A spinning sword attack used to kill the Shadowstripe Leopard; later evolves into Earthshaking Whirling Slash, which stuns the Berserk Bear 19 23.
• Armor-Piercing Slash: Used against the Winged Bird Dragon 25.
• Stacked Wave Force: A battle-qi-free technique taught to Hogg; layered muscular bursts can eventually produce three successive forces in one strike 16.
• Mountain-Shaking Art: Used for body tempering, battle qi cultivation, and powerful sword attacks 27 32 35.

Earth Manipulation and Defense

Hillman progresses from drawing on earth veins to directly controlling earth elemental particles 23 34.

• Earth Shield: Blocks heavy attacks; later applications include reshaping a shield into a barrage of stone fragments 23 34.
• Earth Spike: Attacks limbs and exposed weaknesses from below 23 28.
• Earth Cage: Initially costs fifty battle qi points and targets beings below Saint-level; its range later expands to thirty meters 24 27.
• Earth Roar: Produces a stunning effect whose range and duration he learns to control precisely 25 27 29.
• Limits: Stronger enemies can shatter his shields or restraints. The Gold-Eater Demon Ape is immune to Earth Cage's physical binding 26 30 33.

Laws of the Earth

Hillman's six profound mysteries are Earth Element, Strength, Earth Travel Technique, Vitality, Gravity Space, and Earth Pulse 39.

• Earth Pulse / Earth Pulsation: Connects his battle qi to the earth's rhythm and supports his Saint-level breakthrough 20 24 31.
• Earth Element: Shapes sand, stone, shields, spears, and walls through particle control 34.
• Strength: Compresses power into a single point; strengthens melee attacks and earth constructs and grants the possibility of Armor Break 35.
• Earth Travel Technique: Enables underground movement and surprise emergence 37.
• Vitality: Heals injuries, replenishes battle qi, animates plants, and produces self-repairing stone shields 37.
• Gravity Space: Restricts movement through adjustable gravity, localized shackles, and gravitational force applied to his sword 38.
• Other law applications: Uses Heaviness in direct combat, Devouring to absorb an opponent's force, and Explosion to counterattack 33.

External Godhood

Hillman chooses External Godhood to preserve his original body's future cultivation options 39.

• Splits his soul, forming an Earth-law Divine Clone around an earthen-yellow Divine Spark.
• Retains an Early Saint-level original body capable of cultivating other laws.

Instruction and Command

Hillman teaches swordsmanship, battle qi circulation, movement, conditioning, and coordinated combat 2 3 4 9.

• Organizes five-man squads with one main attacker, two flank supporters, and two rear guards 4.
• Tailors training to individual restrictions, including Hogg's inability to use battle qi and Linley's young age 9 16.
• Guides medicinal energy through Linley's body while administering the Body Tempering Pill 6.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Fine Iron Long Spear — Battle-qi-reinforced weapon used against the Ironclad Berserk Bear 7.
• Fine Iron Longsword — Main weapon during his Magical Beast Forest training and later Saint-level battles 19 32 33.
• Space Ring — Bound system reward with ten cubic meters of storage; holds the Shadow Diamond, recovered equipment, and a magic crystal core 10.
• Mist Pearl — Helps him navigate Mist Canyon and clears mist within three feet of him 25 26 28.
• Dragonblood cultivation records — Entrusted to him by Hogg; contain cultivation methods and information on bloodline awakening 5.
• Dragonblood Pill — Given by Hogg for Linley's future awakening 5.
• Body Tempering Pill — System reward administered to Linley to strengthen his body and improve battle qi flow 3 6.
• Blue Heart Grass — Used in Hillman's body tempering and later to moderate the dangerous power of dragon blood during Hogg's awakening 27 43 50.
• Healing supplies and magic cores — Supports recovery and cultivation through pills, herbs, and refined beast-core energy 21 27 30.

Relationships

• Linley Baruch — Chosen ward and nephew figure. Hillman becomes his martial instructor and works to spare him the tragedies of the original story 1 2 50.
• Hogg Baruch — Childhood friend and sworn-brother-like companion. Hillman trains him, supports the search for Lina, and secures the materials for his Dragonblood awakening 1 15 43.
• Wharton Baruch — Nephew figure whom Hillman helps watch over; he witnesses Wharton's awakening and advises him about controlling his transformation 1 45 46.
• Iron Armor — Former enemy who becomes a sparring partner, trusted friend, and traveling companion. Their bond leads the dragon to willingly donate blood for Hogg 28 32 39 43.
• Doehring Cowart — Respected earth-magic master whom Hillman encourages to teach Linley. Doehring later praises Hillman's courage, wisdom, and loyalty 13 50.
• Bebe and his parents — Hillman saves the Shadowmouse couple before Bebe's birth; Bebe later shows affection toward him before his departure for training 12 18.
• Radiant Church and Clayde — Major threats to the family he protects. Hillman prepares defenses against the Church and identifies Clayde's responsibility for Lina's abduction 5 8 15.

Notable Quotes

“In this life, as long as I, Hillman, am here, the Baruch Clan's tragedy will never happen again!” 2

“The manual is lifeless. People aren't.” 2

“If your father hadn't taken me in back then, I would long since have become a wandering ghost by the roadside. Protecting the Baruch Clan, you, and the children is simply my duty.” 15