Wu Zhangkong

Biodata

Background

Wu Zhangkong has a prior connection to Shrek Academy. While considering how to investigate Lu Chen’s Martial Soul, he privately regrets lacking the courage to return there. He also recognizes Long Tianwu from information he previously read in Shrek Academy’s records 22 48.

When Guang Biao fearfully asks whether he comes from “that place,” Wu Zhangkong answers that he was thrown out because of his bad temper. The supplied chapters do not elaborate on the circumstances of his departure 48.

Appearance

• Build and bearing: Tall and straight-backed, with a handsome appearance and an aloof, solitary presence admired by Xie Xie and Lu Chen 29 45.
• Usual clothing: White robes, commonly paired with a blue sword 21 44 45.
• Training attire: Changes into a black tracksuit for evening instruction 32.
• Battle Armor: Heavenly Ice covers him in snow-white armor with a simple, elegant design and a sharply imposing presence 48.

Personality

Wu Zhangkong is taciturn, emotionally restrained, and blunt enough to intimidate his students. He introduces himself to Class Five by calling them trash while confidently promising to make them the best among their peers. His reserve extends to colleagues: he ignores Class Four’s teacher’s taunts and acknowledges Ye Yingrong’s introduction without accepting her offered handshake 21 39 44.

His severity coexists with a willingness to defend his students. He rejects ridicule of Tang Wulin’s Blue Silver Grass, supports students who fought back against older aggressors, and praises Lu Chen for opposing the exploitation of ordinary people. When Guang Biao threatens Lu Chen’s life, Wu Zhangkong personally intervenes 21 22 29 46 48.

He adjusts his judgments when given new information. Initially dismissing forging as a waste of Lu Chen’s cultivation time, he accepts the choice after learning that Lu Chen is already a third-rank blacksmith and grew up in an orphanage. His tournament selections remain pragmatic, however: he favors Lu Chen and Gu Yue’s exceptional prospects and requires Tang Wulin to prove that he deserves a place 22 33.

Abilities & Skills

Skyfrost Sword

His Martial Soul manifests as a longsword radiating intense cold. Its release rapidly suppresses the heat and extinguishes the spreading flames of Lu Chen’s Royal Fire 23.

• Prevents Zhou Changxi from suffering serious burns during a classroom combat exercise 23.
• Appears snow-white during the field lesson and blue when wielded alongside Heavenly Ice Battle Armor 23 48.

Swordsmanship

Wu Zhangkong demonstrates precise counters, economical footwork, and the ability to exploit small openings. During a technical duel, he defeats Lu Chen with an ordinary wooden sword without using his Martial Soul or Soul Skills 33.

• Identifies Lu Chen’s strong sense of rhythm while criticizing his overly direct attacks and lack of variation 33.
• Counters a coordinated attack by Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie, deflecting the dagger, dispersing gravel, and severing Blue Silver Grass 34.
• Recognizes a trace of sword intent in Lu Chen’s technique, which motivates his additional instruction 34.

Soul Power Control and Physical Ability

Wu Zhangkong can apply Soul Power precisely enough to investigate another person’s meridians or restrain their body 21 25.

• Probes Lu Chen through his wrist, although Lu Chen’s internal power forcibly repels the intrusion 21.
• Immobilizes Lu Chen’s limbs to end their first sparring match 25.
• Uses a belt reinforced with Soul Power to counter Lu Chen’s alchemical sword 24.
• Remains unmoved by Tang Wulin’s pulling strength; with both boys pulling and Lu Chen exerting himself fully, he eventually shifts one foot 34.

Heavenly Ice Battle Armor

Heavenly Ice manifests as a complete suit of snow-white armor. Wearing it, Wu Zhangkong releases pressure exceeding Guang Biao’s and defeats the Soul Emperor with a single sword strike 48.

• Moves too quickly for Guang Biao to react 48.
• Sends Guang Biao flying and leaves him bleeding, immediately ending the threat to Lu Chen 48.

Instruction and Talent Assessment

Wu Zhangkong personally teaches most of Class Five’s courses and uses practical combat from the beginning, insisting that even Tool Soul Masters must be prepared to fight 23.

• Individualized training: Excuses Lu Chen and Tang Wulin from physical conditioning after testing their strength, directing them toward Soul Power cultivation instead 34.
• Conditioning schedule: Opens with three exhausting days before settling into morning physical training and afternoon theory lessons 35.
• Martial Soul assessment: Detects Lu Chen’s unusually pure earth and fire attributes and proposes that an incomplete awakening explains his slow cultivation 21 22.
• Spiritual assessment: Interprets Lu Chen’s Spiritual Power reading of 136 as evidence of a possible spiritual attribute 35.
• Limits of his knowledge: Believes Lu Chen’s devouring ability cannot consume bloodline power, leaving him unable to explain Tang Wulin’s declining strength 39.

Equipment

• Heavenly Ice Battle Armor — Snow-white armor used during the confrontation with Guang Biao 48.
• Wooden sword — An ordinary jet-black training weapon used for demonstrations and sparring 33.
• Storage Soul Guidance Device — Stores his wooden sword 33.
• Belt — Improvised sparring weapon capable of delivering Soul Power-reinforced strikes 24 25.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Taking Charge of Class Five

Wu Zhangkong takes responsibility for Class Five for the coming six years and immediately establishes strict discipline. During introductions, he recognizes Lu Chen’s ultimate attribute and stops a student from mocking Tang Wulin. He subsequently questions Lu Chen in private, considers testing his Martial Soul’s potential, and accepts his decision to continue forging 21 22.

The first combat lessons reveal abilities that Wu Zhangkong cannot readily explain. After extinguishing Royal Fire and defeating Lu Chen in a spar, he questions the boy about his first Soul Skill. Lu Chen supplies a fabricated “Elemental Control” explanation while partially disclosing the patterns behind his Word Spirits. Wu Zhangkong tells him to report any future changes 23 24 25.

Recruiting Gu Yue and Preparing the Tournament Team

After defending Lu Chen, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie in the disciplinary office, Wu Zhangkong returns them to class and assigns them twenty laps rather than the others’ ten. Gu Yue then arrives seeking admission, and he offers an exception if she can endure fifteen minutes against Lu Chen 29 30.

He admits Gu Yue when the time expires, learns the name Nidhogg from Lu Chen, and appoints him class monitor. He then begins nightly training for Lu Chen, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue ahead of the promotion tournament 31 32.

During this preparation, he reassures Lu Chen that a devouring attribute does not make a Martial Soul evil unless it is used to devour living people. He repeatedly emphasizes Martial Soul cultivation as the foundation of strength, while suggesting that Lu Chen eventually combine his swordsmanship with a Battle Armor weapon 33.

Class Promotion Tournament

Wu Zhangkong expects the team to overwhelm Class Four and sets a longer-term goal of reaching the fourth-year classes. He plans to give Tang Wulin experience in early matches while relying on Lu Chen, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie against stronger opponents 39.

As Class Five advances, he manages participation to create training opportunities. Against Class Two, he specifically prohibits Lu Chen from fighting, allowing the other three to win without him 50.

Confrontation with Guang Biao

When the students report that Guang Biao has brought armed men and mechas to demand their surrender, Wu Zhangkong approves of Lu Chen’s opposition to Guang Long’s protection racket. He heads for the gates without even changing out of his sleeping robe 46.

He rescues Lu Chen when Guang Biao prepares a killing attack, manifests Heavenly Ice, and defeats the aggressor in one strike. Long Tianwu subsequently arrives to arrest the group. Once the danger passes, Wu Zhangkong sends all four students back to cultivate 48.

Relationships

• Lu Chen — Student and class monitor. Wu Zhangkong takes a particular interest in his Martial Soul, personally coaches his swordsmanship, and protects him from Guang Biao. Lu Chen regards him as a dependable teacher despite finding his scrutiny intimidating 22 25 31 33 46 48.
• Tang Wulin — Student and tournament candidate. He defends Tang Wulin against ridicule and recognizes his exceptional strength, but doubts his suitability for later tournament matches and cannot explain his weakening physique 21 22 34 39.
• Gu Yue — Student admitted through a special combat test. He values her ability and includes her among his main prospects for the promotion tournament 30 31 33 39.
• Xie Xie — Student and tournament candidate who admires his teacher’s cool demeanor but fears his reprimands 25 32 39 45.
• Long Hengxu — Academy administrator with whom he discusses tournament arrangements; Wu Zhangkong also challenges the accusations against his students in the disciplinary office 29 31.
• Long Tianwu — Recognizes him as Emperor Sword Douluo from Shrek Academy’s records. They both intervene in the Guang Biao incident, with Wu Zhangkong stopping the attack and Long Tianwu handling the arrests 48.

Notable Quotes

“In this world, there are no trash Martial Souls, only trash people!” 22

“I don't believe my students did anything wrong, either!” 29

“All of you, go back and cultivate.” 48