Hongxiu

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Clothing: Introduced wearing red 41.
• Build: Described as exceptionally beautiful, with pronounced curves and a slender waist 41 42.
• Features: Red lips and peach-blossom eyes 41 43.
• Fragrance: Frequently associated with a delicate, orchid-like scent 42 46.

Personality

Hongxiu is socially confident, flirtatious, and calculating. She initially approaches Dongfang Yueming to counterbalance Zhou Tong, strengthen her influence within their squad, and secure protection. His willingness to honor his promise changes her interest into genuine gratitude and growing affection 41 44.

She is also proud and competitive. Unwilling to fall too far behind Dongfang Yueming, she agrees to accept help from her estranged father despite her resentment. Her usual composure can disappear when her feelings become personal: she grows embarrassed by her own advances and retreats rather than maintaining her practiced flirtation 47 48 49.

Abilities & Skills

Whip Combat

• Wields a supple scarlet whip to repel low-level mortal beasts 43.
• Strikes the Blue-Scaled Leopard’s eyes with precision, causing pain and briefly slowing its attack 43.
• Combines her whip with nimble movement to hold off the berserk leopard, but cannot withstand it indefinitely or fully evade its killing strike 44.

Combat Assessment

• Recognizes Zhou Tong’s attempt to endanger Dongfang Yueming by steering an Iron-Armored Rhinoceros toward him 43.
• Realizes that Dongfang Yueming’s effortless kills exceed ordinary Greater Flesh Refining strength 43.
• Correctly identifies him as having reached Flesh Refining Perfection, reasoning that movement-technique mastery alone cannot explain his strength and timing 46.

Frontier Knowledge

• Explains the train’s beast-luring trial before the newcomers encounter it 41 42.
• Gives Dongfang Yueming practical information and precautions about the Beast Defense Frontier 42.
• Understands the cultivation value of mortal beasts’ flesh, blood, sinews, and bones, particularly for martial artists below the Marrow Cleansing Realm 46.

History

Journey to the Frontier

Hongxiu meets Dongfang Yueming aboard the frontier-bound train, where he introduces himself under the name Dongfang Ri. After he claims Greater Flesh Refining cultivation, she becomes openly friendly and defends him against Zhou Tong’s insinuation that he is exaggerating his strength. She also warns the passengers that the train will pass through mortal-beast gathering grounds, where deliberately lured beasts will serve as their first trial 41.

Before battle, she asks Dongfang Yueming to protect her. He agrees because he remembers the useful advice she gave him during the journey 42.

Beast Tide and Squad Leadership

Hongxiu handles low-level mortal beasts comfortably before confronting an intermediate-level Blue-Scaled Leopard. She initially slows it with a whip strike to the eyes, but the fight deteriorates after another martial artist’s attempt to steal its ear provokes it further 43.

The berserk leopard overwhelms her defenses while Zhou Tong refuses to intervene. Dongfang Yueming saves her by beheading it in one strike, then kills additional beasts approaching her while she is stunned. His dependable response to her earlier request leaves her shaken and sincerely grateful 44.

When Zhou Tong tries to collect the squad’s spoils and appoint himself captain, Hongxiu openly rejects his claim and supports Dongfang Yueming instead. She receives 20 military merit points from the squad’s total of 99 45.

Her Father’s Offer

During the rest stop, Hongxiu reveals her actual cultivation and her ambition to reach Dragon Elephant’s Force. Her curiosity about Dongfang Yueming intensifies when he says that pursuing this level is not his only reason for visiting the frontier 46.

Steward Hu subsequently approaches her and asks her to visit her father, the Red-Bearded General. Hongxiu initially refuses: she regards her father as a man absorbed in slaughter who neglects his family. Learning that he has prepared rare breakthrough resources complicates her feelings, and her determination to keep pace with Dongfang Yueming persuades her to agree to a meeting 48.

She first requests two sets of resources. After Steward Hu warns that such valuable gifts could attract dangerous attention, she changes her request to the Hundred Beasts Flesh Refining Method and Hundred Beasts Bone Tempering Method 48.

Gift at Black Stone Fortress

Upon arrival, Hongxiu privately transfers both cultivation methods to Dongfang Yueming through their terminals. She calls them payment for protecting her, challenges him not to let her surpass him, and kisses his cheek before blushing and fleeing into the crowd 49.

Her gift directly supports his next breakthrough: Dongfang Yueming subsequently cultivates the Hundred Beasts Bone Tempering Method in seclusion and enters the Bone Forging Realm at lesser mastery 50.

Relationships

• Dongfang Yueming / Dongfang Ri — Temporary squad captain, protector, and romantic interest. Their initially practical alliance develops into genuine affection on her side; she repays his protection with two cultivation methods and a kiss 41 44 45 49.
• Red-Bearded General — Her father, a powerful Blood Replacement Realm expert at Black Stone Fortress. Their relationship is strained by her belief that he neglects his family; his preparations for her breakthrough persuade her to agree to see him 48.
• Steward Hu — Her father’s steward and intermediary. He persuades her to reconsider visiting the general and helps arrange the cultivation methods she requests 48.
• Zhou Tong — Antagonistic squadmate. She challenges his arrogance and leadership bid, while he resents her support for Dongfang Yueming and refuses to help when the leopard threatens her life 41 44 45.
• Tie Shan and Tie Zhu — Fellow members of the temporary squad. She explains the approaching beast trial to them and seeks their support for Dongfang Yueming’s captaincy 41 42 45.