Zhao Zhong

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Thirty years before explaining his past to Jiang Fa, Zhao Zhong was an outer disciple of the Earth Xuan Sect in Qingyang Prefecture. By his own account, his aptitude and innate talent were unexceptional, but he trained diligently. The Mountain-Breaking Stance he later taught at his martial hall originated as a cultivation method for the sect’s outer disciples, rather than an art he created himself 46.

Zhao Zhong eventually left the sect because of unspecified “certain matters,” returned to Qingshan County, and founded the Zhao Clan Martial Hall. His recollection carries nostalgia and unease, but he declines to explain the circumstances of his departure to Jiang Fa 46.

Appearance

• Build: Sturdy and vigorous, with a lean waist and narrow hips 2.
• Expression and bearing: Sharp-eyed and overbearing, with a loud, powerful voice 2.
• Clothing: Initially wears fitted black martial clothes with a black belt; later appears in dark gray training clothes 2 19.
• Outside training: A dark blue robe gives him a more scholarly appearance than his usual martial attire 24.

Personality

Zhao Zhong is stern, pragmatic, and intolerant of idleness. He explicitly describes the martial hall as no charity, requiring students to reach Ming Jin within three months or leave without a tuition refund. He justifies this severity through the dangers of the martial world, where enemies will not spare poorly prepared practitioners 2.

He openly recognizes differences in talent and gives Qin Xuan exceptional attention, but also teaches that insufficient talent is no excuse for abandoning diligence. His assessments are not swayed by family connections: despite knowing Liu Wen’s father, he rejects Liu Wen’s request for another chance when his foundation proves unstable 7 11 18.

His response to Jiang Fa’s unexpected success shows that he can revise his judgments. He acknowledges having expected little from Jiang Fa’s low-grade aptitude, then praises his achievement and refuses to take sole credit for it. His advice also extends beyond technique, warning Jiang Fa that conspicuous progress can attract jealousy and danger 45 46.

Abilities & Skills

Mountain-Breaking Stance

Zhao Zhong teaches the hall’s signature mid Yellow Grade cultivation method, explaining and demonstrating its three layers 3 10 19 46.

• First layer — Sinking Jin: Directs strength downward, establishing a rooted stance and a foundation for Ming Jin 3 19.
• Second layer — Lifting Jin: Raises force from the feet through the body into a strike. Zhao Zhong demonstrates it by splitting a three-inch-thick bluestone slab with a palm placed against its surface 19.
• Third layer — Penetrating Jin: Develops force that passes through protective surfaces to damage what lies beneath; perfecting this layer leads to Transforming Force 3 46.
• Written instruction: Produces a handwritten second-layer manual containing detailed annotations and personal cultivation insights 24.

Penetrating Jin

Zhao Zhong demonstrates three increasingly refined applications of Penetrating Jin while instructing Jiang Fa 46.

Mountain-Breaking Fist

Zhao Zhong has cultivated this eighteen-form, mid Yellow Grade fist art to Perfection. He describes its central principle as “burst”: fierce force released and withdrawn in an instant 10.

• His demonstration produces powerful gusts, lifts dust, and forces nearby disciples to step back, while leaving his breathing steady 10.
• He distinguishes memorizing the movements from genuinely entering the technique, correcting Qin Xuan on this point after his first performance 11.
• Despite decades of practice, he has not attained the fist art’s Transformation Realm 10.

Martial Assessment and Instruction

• Recognizes Qin Xuan’s extraordinary aptitude from his reproduction of the Mountain-Breaking Stance 3.
• Assesses disciples’ bone aptitude and evaluates the stability of their blood, Qi, and martial foundations 18 19.
• Identifies that Jiang Fa’s strength exceeds that of an ordinary early An Jin practitioner after his clash with Xie Tan 45.
• Combines demonstrations, oral formulas, written annotations, and individual guidance in his teaching 10 24 46.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment and Qin Xuan’s Rise

Zhao Zhong establishes the new students’ tuition requirements, training rules, and three-month assessment deadline. He delegates their initial stance instruction to Wang Shi, then takes a personal interest in Qin Xuan’s exceptional learning speed. Before Qin Xuan reaches Ming Jin, he permits him to observe inner courtyard training 2 3 7.

When Qin Xuan breaks through in less than two months, Zhao Zhong accepts him as his direct disciple and personally leads him into the inner courtyard. During the same assessment period, Chen Erniu fails and later dies by suicide; Zhao Zhong gives his grieving parents silver and has them escorted home 16.

Jiang Fa’s Inner Courtyard Training

Zhao Zhong passes Jiang Fa after witnessing his stable foundation and robust blood and Qi, ranking him second in the intake behind Qin Xuan. He subsequently teaches the second layer of the Mountain-Breaking Stance and provides annotated instructions 18 19 24.

After Jiang Fa reaches An Jin and overcomes Xie Tan, Zhao Zhong questions his unusual strength and accepts his explanation of prior folk body-refining training. He authorizes Jiang Fa to choose an armory weapon, teaches him the third-layer formula, and advises him to keep a low profile 45 46.

Relationships

• Qin Xuan — Direct disciple and favored pupil. Zhao Zhong provides special access to inner courtyard training and later keeps him close for daily private instruction 7 16 28.
• Jiang Fa — Disciple whose low-grade aptitude initially limits Zhao Zhong’s expectations. Jiang Fa’s rapid advancement earns his recognition, advanced instruction, and personal warnings 24 45 46.
• Wang Shi — Eldest inner courtyard disciple, entrusted with teaching newcomers and assisting with assessments 3 12 18.
• Steward Ma — Hall steward whom Zhao Zhong directs disciples to consult about outside employment and armory access 24 45.
• Liu Wen — Student whose father Zhao Zhong knows socially. That connection does not secure leniency when Liu Wen fails the assessment 2 18.

Notable Quotes

“If talent is lacking, make up for it with diligence.” 11

“There's only so much I teach. How far you go depends entirely on yourself. There's no need to be modest, nor should you belittle yourself.” 45