Zhao Bo

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Zhao Family Servitude

Zhao Bo was born into a hereditary servant household whose ancestors had served the Zhao Family for three generations. Although granted the Zhao surname, he has no blood relationship to the family. Unlike his father and grandfather, he rejected the expectation that he should spend his life serving them 180 181.

At sixteen, he began secretly listening outside the Scripture Teaching Pavilion after finishing his work. He learned basic martial theory, discovered how to circulate energy through his meridians, and eventually entered the Initiation Realm. A Zhao Family young master later discovered his unauthorized training, leading to a brutal beating and punishment for his parents 181.

His father’s legs were broken, and he was expelled from the household; news of his death followed soon afterward. Zhao Bo received heavier labor and daily abuse. At twenty, he stole the first three chapters of the family’s Undying Divine Skill and escaped to Zhou City 181.

Concealment in Zhou City

Zhao Bo spent decades cultivating without a teacher, but his incomplete manual and limited talent prevented him from reaching the Revolving Illumination Realm. He concealed his origins and became a black-market guide, allowing others to dismiss him as a mad old man who enjoyed provoking fights and taking beatings. Those beatings were part of his flawed cultivation practice 49 51 181.

Despite his shabby public image, he owned a well-furnished two-story villa containing paintings, calligraphy, and antiques 69.

Appearance

• An older man over fifty, with wrinkles and an aged face 50 51.
• Long bangs partly conceal his deeply sunken, dark eyes 49.
• His harmless-looking public persona changes sharply when threatened: his gaze becomes fierce, and he releases unmistakable killing intent 49.

Personality

Zhao Bo is rebellious and unwilling to accept inherited servitude. His determination drove him to learn martial arts secretly and steal the Zhao Family’s prized technique, but decades of hiding left him deeply fearful of their power. Even after becoming a Grandmaster, he initially considered revenge unrealistic 180 181.

He is proud and suspicious when Gu Chen first approaches him, refusing to acknowledge a much younger man as his master merely because he is stronger. His submission becomes sincere only after Gu Chen corrects his cultivation and demonstrates knowledge far beyond his own 50 51.

Once convinced, Zhao Bo becomes fiercely loyal. He reacts angrily to disrespect toward Gu Chen, resents the humiliation inflicted on Gu Chen and his father, and offers to leave the Heavenly Pivot Sect rather than expose it to retaliation from the Zhao Family. Gu Chen’s promise of support restores both his desire for revenge and his enthusiasm for cultivation 74 85 180 182.

Abilities & Skills

Undying Divine Skill

Zhao Bo’s principal cultivation method originates from the Zhao Family. Gu Chen identifies it as an immortal cultivation method rather than an ordinary martial technique 51.

• Original practice: Zhao Bo takes beatings so that true qi can strike and break through congealed areas in his meridians. Gu Chen considers this approach crude and incorrect 49 51.
• Corrected circulation: Gu Chen redirects his internal force, opens blocked areas, and eliminates the need to cultivate through beatings 51.
• Revised manual: Gu Chen supplies a rewritten version intended to surpass the incomplete original 56.
• Limitations: Zhao Bo struggles to understand the revised method and goes astray during his first major breakthrough. His age later limits his progress despite pills and direct guidance 72 328.
• Unproven claims: Zhao Bo has heard that complete mastery permits immortal ascension and rebirth from a drop of blood; he does not demonstrate either ability 56.

Five Void Claw

A claw technique belonging to the Undying Divine Skill, executed with fingers curved like a crane’s claw 49 72.

• Produces a fierce accompanying wind and is described as capable of piercing metal and splitting stone 49.
• Gains greater power and a deeper level of understanding after Zhao Bo reaches the Revolving Illumination Realm 72.
• Cannot penetrate Gu Chen’s invisible qi shield; Gu Chen disperses it with a casual finger flick 72.

Grandmaster Combat

• Sends Lu Fan flying when Lu Fan strikes his shoulder, while remaining stationary and deliberately holding back 76.
• Stops Jiang Kun’s punch with one finger and knocks him down 82.
• Defeats Gu Lin with a single strike 122.
• Forces Gu Xia to release Gu Qichu, then gains the advantage over Gu Huan in a brief palm exchange 328.
• Nearly causes serious injuries to three Revolving Illumination opponents fighting together, but is ultimately overpowered and abducted 331.
• Remains vulnerable to coordinated opponents: the Water Cloud Sect’s two elders previously defeated him together 181.

Instruction and Formations

• Teaches the Tiger Roar Technique to Gu Chen’s recruited underground fighters and continues supervising their training 74 179.
• Begins learning how to establish formations directly from Gu Chen before leaving for Shangjing; independent mastery is not documented 203.

Treatment and Black-Market Knowledge

• Examines Gu Beichi’s damaged meridians and assists with treatment that allows him to briefly gather true qi again 87 98.
• Leaves a trace of true qi in Gu Beichi’s meridians to conceal Gu Chen’s involvement in the examination 88.
• Has connections in both major Zhou City black markets, obtains medicinal ingredients, recruits fighters, and gathers information about visiting martial artists 51 52 98 180.
• Recognizes the Beacon Fire Token and explains the assassin organization’s ranks 69 70.

Equipment & Resources

• Revised Undying Divine Skill booklet — Gu Chen’s replacement for his incomplete cultivation method 56.
• Luo Heaven Pills — Consumes three during the cultivation session that brings him into the Revolving Illumination Realm 72.
• Yellow Rock Pill — Supplied for an attempted breakthrough to Middle Revolving Illumination; the attempt falls short 297 328.
• Jade Guanyin — Entrusted to him for the journey to Shangjing, with instructions not to reveal it carelessly; later used to support his cultivation 204 328.
• South Ring Road villa — Provides temporary accommodation for Gu Chen’s group after their conflict with the Water Cloud Sect 179.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Becoming Gu Chen’s Disciple

Gu Chen deliberately observes Zhao Bo using knowledge from his previous life, in which his own master had mentioned Zhao Bo’s technique and subsequent death. The identity of Zhao Bo’s killer in that life is unknown to Gu Chen 50 51.

After defeating Zhao Bo and reproducing the Five Void Claw from a single observation, Gu Chen offers to repair his technique, employ him, and help him avoid a future calamity. Zhao Bo accepts the apprenticeship, then bows again in genuine gratitude after experiencing the corrected qi circulation 49 50 51.

Establishing the Heavenly Pivot Sect’s Presence

Zhao Bo guides Gu Chen into the black market and gathers four underground fighters for recruitment. His revealed strength helps establish Gu Chen’s authority, while his later defeat of Lu Fan exposes his Grandmaster cultivation publicly 52 53 54 76.

He accompanies Gu Chen against the Jiang Group and the Zhou Family, identifying himself as the Heavenly Pivot Sect master’s disciple during the confrontation with Jiang Yi. He subsequently pressures Lu Fan into spreading the sect’s claims against the Steel Tremor Sect and Wuji Manor, combining the threat of approaching a rival market with a promised share of Shennong Grass 80 82 122 135.

Captivity and the Promise of Revenge

While Gu Chen is away, Zhao Bo is defeated by Water Cloud Sect elders and imprisoned with Jiang Qi and Zhu Jun. Gu Chen rescues and heals them, after which the group relocates to Zhao Bo’s villa 176 179 181.

Zhao Bo then reveals his history with the Zhao Family. Gu Chen refuses his offer to withdraw from the sect and promises to support his revenge. Later, after killing Zhao Pengfei, Gu Chen tells Zhao Bo that he must personally take revenge on Zhao Pengquan, one of the chief culprits behind his parents’ deaths 180 181 182 297.

Shangjing and Abduction

Zhao Bo travels to Shangjing ahead of Gu Chen with Gu Beichi and the other followers. During the confrontation at Gu Changfeng’s birthday celebration, he knocks the injured Gu Beichi unconscious after Gu Beichi objects to outside interference in the family dispute 203 204 308.

When the main Gu Family arrives from the Land of Heaven and Earth, Zhao Bo protects Gu Qichu and intercepts Gu Huan’s attempt to seize Gu Beichi. Gu Huan, Gu Xia, and a third martial artist surround and eventually overpower him. Both Zhao Bo and Gu Beichi are abducted, prompting Gu Chen to search Shangjing and pursue their captors into the Land of Heaven and Earth 328 331 334.

Relationships

• Gu Chen — Master and leader. Corrects Zhao Bo’s cultivation, enables his Grandmaster breakthrough, rescues him, and pledges support against the Zhao Family. Zhao Bo swears lifelong loyalty to him 51 72 176 182 297.
• Gu Beichi — His master’s father, whom he treats and protects. He publicly presents himself as Gu Chen’s friend to avoid exposing their actual relationship to Gu Beichi 87 88 140.
• Lu Fan — Former black-market superior and later negotiating counterpart. Initially underestimates Zhao Bo, then addresses him as Elder Zhao after learning his strength and sect connection 75 76 135.
• Ma Gang, Jiang Qi, and Zhu Jun — Fellow followers of Gu Chen; Zhao Bo helps train the recruited fighters and is imprisoned alongside Jiang Qi and Zhu Jun 74 176 179.
• Zhao Family — Former masters and the target of his revenge. Their punishment of his household and his theft of the Undying Divine Skill force him into hiding 180 181.
• Zhao Pengfei and Zhao Pengquan — Enemies connected to his family’s suffering. Gu Chen kills Pengfei and leaves Pengquan for Zhao Bo to confront personally 297.
• Gu Huan and Gu Xia — Main Gu Family opponents who help overpower and abduct him 328 331.

Notable Quotes

“Your disciple Zhao Bo pays his respects to Master.” 50

“For your immense kindness, Master, I, Zhao Bo, swear to follow you unto death in this life!” 297

“Under my master’s tutelage, wouldn’t it be natural for me to surpass you?” 328