Nanling Zhao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Inspection Court Service

Nanling Zhao entered the Inspection Court at fourteen. During her first five years, she witnessed extensive corruption and sometimes compromised when she believed doing so would better protect those involved. Her ambition was to improve the world and become someone like Fang Yu 13 18.

Her position carried considerable authority over provincial officials, but her independence also depended on her family. She acknowledged that her father’s backing had protected her from the consequences of offending powerful people 18 21.

Investigating the Ye Family’s Treatment

Nanling Zhao first encountered Ye Tianming while investigating killings connected to Zhao Xiu. Although she threatened to arrest his family during questioning, she admitted she lacked evidence and released him. She then investigated why the Ye Family had resorted to violence 3.

The investigation uncovered underpaid demolition compensation and a chain of subcontractors involving influential businesses and clans, including the Qingzhou An Clan. Recognizing that a wider confrontation could endanger her own lineage, she ordered the Zhao Family punished and the Ye Family compensated. Zhou Yuan and Old Mo subsequently chose to stall rather than directly enforce her demands 3.

She later caught up with Ye Tianming and burned his wanted notice. Rather than treating his actions as an isolated legal violation, she considered the injustice that had driven them 3.

Attempted Appeal to the Guanxuan Realm

When Yuan Qi pressured Ye Tianming into settling with the Xiao Family, Nanling Zhao stopped him from burning his flesh and soul in a desperate fight. Distrusting Qingzhou’s authorities, she summoned Hu Pan and Liu Yan with several thousand Guanxuan Guards from other provinces to escort them to the Guanxuan Realm 12.

Ji Shi attempted to prevent their departure. Nanling Zhao fought through his forces and used her Inspector’s Seal to overcome his Academy Master’s Seal. When Xiao Family assassins intercepted them, she refused an offer to withdraw in exchange for a favor to her clan 13.

She had already arranged for academy friends to protect the Ye Family. During the ensuing battle, she repelled three Half-Step Emperor Realm experts with the seal’s full power, but a Saint Realm spear wielder broke her defenses and pierced her abdomen. Pei Buleng intervened, allowing her to escape with Ye Tianming 14.

While Ye Tianming treated her wound, Nanling Zhao learned about his self-created cultivation technique and his experiences in the Guanxuan Dao trials. She recommended the Immortal Treasure Pavilion’s Martial Pavilion as a possible source of training and protection, then arranged a Sword Sect assessment with Pei Buleng 14 15 16.

The appeal collapsed just as official reinforcements appeared to secure their journey. Inspection Court Master Zeng He ordered the case closed and announced Nanling Zhao’s one-month suspension. Ye Tianming’s newly obtained Sword Sect token was also withdrawn, and the assembled protectors departed 16.

Finding an Academy for Ye Tianming

Nanling Zhao continued helping Ye Tianming after his admission to Qingzhou Academy was revoked. She proposed finding another provincial academy so he could enter the Myriad Provinces Grand Competition, win an opportunity to meet the Guanxuan Sword Master, and question the injustice himself 17.

Their search met repeated political refusals:

Recalled by her family, Nanling Zhao lent Ye Tianming her Inspector’s Seal and promised to return. She persuaded her father to seek a place for him in the Central Divine Province, despite his warnings that the dispute implicated much of the universe’s privileged class 20 21.

Nanling Xun secured Song Shi’s agreement by offering the struggling academy one million spirit crystals. Before leaving, Nanling Zhao recovered her seal, gave Ye Tianming a storage ring, and urged him to cultivate under the academy’s master and instructor 23.

Plans for Collective Action

After securing Ye Tianming’s admission, Nanling Zhao concluded that acting alone was insufficient. She proposed gathering like-minded young people from prominent clans and sects into a united force against the Xiao Family and other lawless powers. Her father’s attempt to impress caution upon her instead prompted a more organized approach to reform 23.

Personality

Nanling Zhao treats justice as more than literal obedience to the law. She recognizes circumstances, motives, and unequal power, arguing that sentiment, law, and reason cannot all be measured with a single ruler. Her willingness to compromise has limits: she refuses when compromise would knowingly leave a powerless person to die 3 13.

She is aware of her own susceptibility to authority. She admits becoming conceited after becoming an inspector and believes that gaining power should be followed by restraining one’s desire for it. She also rejects the assumption that low birth determines a person’s future, challenging her father to remember the Nanling Clan’s own humble origins 18 21.

Her manner combines warmth with blunt defiance. She teases Ye Tianming about his embarrassment and fear of heights, exchanges rude gestures with Pei Buleng, and speaks aggressively when officials obstruct her. Nevertheless, she acknowledges the legitimate responsibilities of academy heads who refuse her requests 12 13 16 18 19.

Abilities & Skills

Divine Being Realm Cultivation

Her personal cultivation allows her to confront provincial experts directly 13.

• Tears open spacetime and travels through it 3.
• Flies while carrying Ye Tianming 13 16.
• Immobilizes Zhou Qing with her presence and knocks Ji Shi backward with a punch 12 13.
• Is initially suppressed when Ji Shi augments his strength with the Qingzhou Academy Master’s Seal 13.

Inspector’s Seal Techniques

Nanling Zhao uses the Inspector’s Seal for both offense and protection 13 14.

• Releases golden light and densely packed runes to repel opponents 13.
• Unleashes a thousand streams of golden light, driving back three Half-Step Emperor Realm experts 14.
• Uses Myriad Laws Seal Defense to form a barrier of golden runes around herself and Ye Tianming 14.
• Suffers severe exhaustion when drawing on the seal’s full power; its defenses cannot withstand the Saint Realm spear wielder 14 15.

Martial Knowledge and Assessment

She recognizes the significance of Ye Tianming’s self-created technique and explains routes through which his talent might gain institutional support 14 15.

• Initially assesses his technique as at least heaven-grade, with potential to develop much further 14 15.
• Explains the Martial Pavilion’s research, recruitment restrictions, and pursuit of Realm-Ignoring creations 15.
• Arranges a practical swordsmanship assessment rather than asking the Sword Sect to accept him without demonstrating ability 16.

Equipment / Items

• Inspector’s Seal — Her principal combat treasure and a token of authority. While borrowed by Ye Tianming, it helps him obtain an audience at the Milky Way Sect; Nanling Zhao also contacts him through it 13 20 22 23.
• Medicinal pills — Uses pills to heal her abdominal wound and restore strength after exhausting herself 14 15.
• Storage ring — Gives one to Ye Tianming before leaving the Central Divine Province; its contents are not specified 23.

Relationships

• Ye Tianming — Initially an investigative subject, later a friend whom she protects and helps place in an academy. Others speculate that her support is romantic, but she does not confirm this and states that she has not considered matters of the heart 3 18 21 23.
• Nanling Xun — Her father and the Nanling Clan patriarch. He warns her about collective consequences while ultimately helping secure Ye Tianming’s admission; he explicitly says he is proud of her conduct 21 23.
• Pei Buleng — A Sword Sect friend who rescues her from the Xiao Family’s attackers and agrees to assess Ye Tianming at her request 14 16.
• Yang Jie — Her father’s close friend, whom she calls “Uncle Yang.” He regards her as half a daughter but refuses to admit Ye Tianming to Yongzhou Academy 18.
• Hu Pan and Liu Yan — Provincial Guanxuan Guard commanders who answer her summons and pledge to protect her and Ye Tianming 12.
• Zeng He — Her Inspection Court superior, who delivers the order ending her investigation and suspending her 16.
• Fang Yu — Her model for principled public service; she aspires to follow his example 18 21.

Notable Quotes

“Ye Tianming, you and I are both people walking a road at night. Let's see which of us can make it to daybreak.” 3

“Whether it's Fang Xiao or me, what we are protecting is not just you, Ye Tianming, but justice in this world.” 13

“When a person gains power, the first thing they should do is restrain their own desire for it...” 18

Trivia

• She is especially fond of fish and can eat all the flesh while leaving the skeleton intact. During her Qingzhou investigation, she makes an arriving subordinate wait until she finishes eating before reporting 3.
• She previously attempted the Guanxuan Dao trials, though her results are not stated 14.