Wharton

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Transmigration and Early Training

Wharton awakens in the body of the young Wharton Baruch after memories of finishing computer code and going to sleep in his previous life. His former name has become indistinct, while the child’s identity and family memories remain clear. He recognizes Linley as his older brother and knows events from the original story 1 3.

After discovering his skill panel through reading and writing, he secretly begins physical training. He deliberately behaves like an ordinary toddler around his family to avoid attracting suspicion, while using observation and repetition to learn Linley’s exercises 1 2.

Two destructive battles in Wushan Town turn his awareness of danger into an urgent desire for strength. During the second, Linley frees him from a buried cellar and shields him from falling debris, suffering a serious head wound. That night, Wharton witnesses Doehring Cowart awaken from the bloodstained Coiling Dragon Ring 3 4.

Doehring teaches both brothers meditation and basic magical principles. Although unable to teach Wharton fire spells, he guides his early training and later leaves him a sealed framework of magical knowledge that unlocks as his strength improves 5 9 10.

O’Brien Academy

On his sixth birthday, Wharton’s bloodline test confirms that he can cultivate the Dragonblood Secret Codex. Its demanding exercises quickly expose the family’s financial limits: inadequate nutrition leaves him weak enough that the panel warns of possible damage to his foundation. Linley’s gift of 9,900 gold coins relieves the crisis and funds his departure for O’Brien Academy 11.

Wharton travels north with Barker’s Grayhoof Trading Company caravan, maintaining reduced training despite poor food and exhausting travel. After reaching Chiyan City on the fifty-first day, he passes the academy’s entrance assessment with an exceptional talent rating 12 13.

At twelve, he becomes the first student in the academy’s eight-hundred-year history to apply for graduation at that age. He defeats Harold Stoke, Alice Windsor, and Roderick O’Brien, then survives Raymond’s examination for the duration of an incense stick without transforming. Emperor Joanne O’Brien offers him imperial resources and employment, but Wharton chooses to return to his clan, accepting a guest elder token instead 14.

Family Revenge

During his journey home, Wharton learns that Hogg died three months earlier. At the manor, he finds his father’s memorial tablet, the ancestral saber Slaughter, and Linley’s letter warning him to remain safely in O’Brien. Refusing to leave his brother to face their enemies alone, he questions Hillman about Hogg’s death and departs for Fenlai City 15 16.

Reunited with Linley, Wharton helps ambush Duke Paterson and kills him after questioning him about their mother’s abduction. When Linley later plans to poison Clayde inside the palace, Wharton challenges the plan’s weaknesses and persuades him to prioritize preparation, investigation, and the clan’s survival 17 19.

The brothers eventually attack Clayde’s Yulan Festival procession with Bebe. Wharton defeats Caesar, while Linley captures Clayde and learns that their mother was handed to the Radiant Church as a sacrifice. After Linley kills Clayde, the Day of Destruction engulfs Fenlai City. The brothers seize valuables from a royal convoy and fight their way out with Bebe 20 21.

Mountain Training and the Undead Temple

Wharton spends three years training with Linley in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, refining Mountain Momentum through repeated battles. They eventually leave for the O’Brien Empire, seeking distance from the Holy Union and a society that values martial strength 22.

Along the way, Wharton prevents an assassination attempt against Jenny and Keane. The brothers escort the siblings to Chier County City, defeat Lady Weide’s assassins, and help Keane secure his inheritance 23.

They subsequently rescue the necromancer Sessler from Cardinal Lampson’s party. Sessler explains the Church’s exchange of pure souls for divine grace and offers help locating their mother’s soul relic. In Mist Valley, he removes a Holy Light Brand from each brother. The Council of Elders then votes four to two to permit them to attempt the Undead Temple trial 24 25.

Appearance

• Early childhood: Pale golden hair, clear blue eyes, rounded cheeks, and small, dimpled hands 1.
• At graduation: Nearly 1.6 meters tall, with a lean, developed warrior’s frame 14.
• Fenlai reunion: Described with dark brown hair, broad shoulders, heavy musculature, and an appearance old enough to be mistaken for eighteen or nineteen 17.
• Training injuries: A dark scar on his left shoulder, burns over his right ribs, and bruises on his back. The shoulder injury came from an eighth-level instructor; the burns came from a seventh-level fire mage during an academy tournament 19.
• Dragonblood form: Nearly two and a half meters tall, covered in black scales, with joint spikes, spinal bone spurs, dark-golden vertical pupils, and a dragon tail 17.

Personality

Wharton is methodical and persistent. He trains before dawn, records gradual improvements, and treats the panel as a learning aid rather than a shortcut. His mature concentration surprises Hiri and Doehring Cowart, but he initially conceals it behind age-appropriate behavior 1 5 9.

His loyalty to his family outweighs offers of status or comfort. He rejects the emperor’s invitation to remain in O’Brien and refuses Linley’s attempt to exclude him from the family’s struggle. He also rejects Linley’s self-blame, placing responsibility on those who harmed their parents 14 16.

Despite his determination to take revenge, Wharton values survival and preparation over an uncertain attack. He uses his own academy injuries to demonstrate how narrow the margin between progress and permanent harm can be, persuading Linley that neither brother can afford to throw away the clan’s future 19.

Abilities & Skills

Skill Panel

Records learning, physical conditioning, cultivation, and combat information 1 10 13.

• Tracks proficiency in writing, memorization, geography, exercises, and inherited techniques 1 9 11.
• Analyzes observed movements, helping him reproduce the Energy Gathering Stance with less trial and error 10.
• Monitors heart rate, muscle load, rest requirements, and nutritional deficiencies 10 11.
• Identifies an opponent’s habits and recommends tactical responses during combat 13.
• Requires genuine practice; it does not provide instant mastery 1.

Dragonblood Bloodline and Transformation

His exceptionally concentrated bloodline supports specialized cultivation, enhanced recovery, and a powerful combat transformation 7 11 17.

• At six, the panel records recovery speed increased by 38%, fatigue accumulation reduced by 31%, and basal metabolism increased by 24% 11.
• Transformation raises his seventh-level normal strength to ninth-level combat strength; after his eighth-level breakthrough, he confirms upper ninth-level transformed power 15 19.
• His scales withstand Paterson’s guards’ sword strikes without breaking, while his fists and tail overwhelm the guards in fewer than three breaths 17.
• Specialized cultivation requires substantial food and medicinal support; insufficient intake can damage his foundation or reduce bloodline activity 11.

Mountain Momentum

A combat Momentum associated with the crushing pressure of a mountain 22.

• First manifests when the Crimsonflame Giant Python injures Linley 22.
• Develops through repeated battles until even casual weapon swings carry its pressure 22.
• Its acquisition does not establish that Wharton himself has reached the Saint level 22.

Fire-Element Cultivation

Possesses strong fire-element perception and unusually high spiritual power, allowing him to cultivate magical reserves alongside warrior training 5.

• Learns meditation from Doehring and independently improves its elemental resonance 5 10.
• Accumulates fifth-rank reserves without learning actual spells; Linley later offers to teach him spellcasting 15 19.
• Prioritizes warrior training, leaving most of his magical development in meditation and theory 10 19.

Combat Technique and Analysis

Uses precise movement, timing, and misdirection to compensate for differences in age or strength 13 14.

• Defeats an older entrance-exam opponent by exploiting his forceful right-sided attacks and disarming him 13.
• Reads Alice Windsor’s breathing rhythm to anticipate openings despite her superior speed 14.
• Defeats Roderick through close-range maneuvering, a thrown blade, and an immediate follow-up strike 14.
• Encounters clear limits against superior defense: his training blade cannot penetrate Raymond’s battle-qi protection 14.

Knowledge of the Original Story

Retains memories of major events and characters from the original novel 3 6.

• Anticipates the battles in Wushan Town and recognizes the Coiling Dragon Ring 3 4.
• Intends to use the coming Day of Destruction as an opportunity 19.
• Does not remember every event’s exact timing and recognizes that his actions may alter the expected timeline 3 11.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Slaughter — The Baruch Clan’s ancestral saber, recovered by Linley and left at the manor. Responds to Wharton’s Dragonblood energy with a vibrating hum and a brightening dark-red sheen 16.
• Dragonblood Secret Codex — An incomplete handwritten copy containing bloodline theory, transformation principles, breathing methods, cultivation movements, and medicinal-bath formulas 11.
• Sealed magical knowledge — A framework left by Doehring Cowart, with advanced material restricted until Wharton becomes strong enough to access it 10.
• Short knife — Given by Hogg for self-defense before the northbound journey; its blade is under thirty centimeters long 12.
• Graduation badge — A dark-gold O’Brien Academy badge bearing a crossed sword and shield 14.
• Imperial guest elder token — Given by Emperor Joanne O’Brien after Wharton declines permanent imperial service 14.
• Baruch Clan ceremonial outfit — Made by Hiri for his graduation, with dark-blue fabric and a silver-thread clan emblem 14.

Relationships

• Linley Baruch — Older brother, training partner, and partner in revenge. Linley protects him in childhood and finances his cultivation; Wharton later helps restrain Linley’s reckless pursuit of revenge 4 11 19.
• Hogg Baruch — Father and early cultivation instructor. Sells family possessions to support Wharton’s training; his death becomes a central motive for Wharton’s return and revenge 11 15 16.
• Lina — Mother, whose disappearance Hogg investigated. Wharton joins Linley in uncovering her abduction and the Church’s use of her as a sacrifice 16 17 20.
• Hiri — Family butler and affectionate caregiver, whom Wharton calls “Grandpa Hiri.” Teaches him reading, prepares his clothes, and fears for both brothers’ safety 1 9 14 16.
• Doehring Cowart — Mentor in meditation and magical theory. Recognizes Wharton’s unusual maturity and advises him on balancing warrior and magical cultivation 5 9 10.
• Hillman — Family ally who delivers Linley’s financial support and gives Wharton a detailed account of Hogg’s final investigation 11 16.
• Barker — Caravan leader entrusted by Hogg with Wharton’s journey. Protects him, helps him reach the academy, and advises him about competition and survival 12 13.
• Raymond “Iron Wall” — Academy vice dean and graduation examiner. Tests Wharton’s endurance and personally awards his graduation badge 14.
• Joanne O’Brien — Emperor who attempts to recruit him, then leaves the offer open through a guest elder token 14.
• Sessler — Necromancer rescued by the brothers. Becomes their ally, removes Church tracking brands, and secures permission for their Undead Temple trial 24 25.
• Duke Paterson, Clayde, and the Radiant Church — Enemies implicated in his parents’ suffering. Wharton kills Paterson and helps Linley pursue Clayde and the Church 17 20 24.

Notable Quotes

“I’m his brother, not a fledgling that needs him to shelter it forever. I’ll decide my own path.” 16

“The ones at fault are the people who hurt them and hid the truth.” 16

“Brother, we’re the last men of the Baruch Clan now. If something happens to us too, who’ll avenge Father? Who’ll look for Mother? Who’ll restore the clan?” 19