Zhang Zhonghu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Early Cultivation and Name Change

Originally called Zhang Erhu, he changes his name to Zhang Zhonghu after entering immortal cultivation, believing his old name no longer suits his new life. Fang Yu jokes that the change still leaves him “number two,” since zhong also denotes the second position in a traditional sequence 114.

Zhang supports Fang Yu’s early alchemy practice by supplying thirteen sets of pill materials. In return, Fang Yu later gives him nine standard Qi Gathering Pills and four inferior pills. Despite warnings about Foundation Establishment-level Demon Beasts, Zhang resolves to enter the Nine-Lock Azure Terrace: its ten-year opening cycle and his cultivation bottleneck make waiting unacceptable to him 114 116.

The Abandoned Storage Bag

Before the expedition, Zhang discovers a Storage Bag containing 134,586 mid-grade Spirit Stones, two high-grade wood-element Spirit Artifacts, a fire talisman treasure, and a booklet. The booklet presents these possessions as a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator’s legacy, with further inheritance supposedly accessible after Zhang reaches Foundation Establishment and refines the sword 117.

The apparent windfall is actually Fang Yu’s arrangement. Fang selects Zhang because his poor Spirit Root and determination make him likely to risk his life for opportunities. A hidden heart flame in the peachwood sword allows Fang to observe Zhang’s experiences inside the secret realm 119.

Nine-Lock Azure Terrace and Ding Yue

After searching for more than half a month, Zhang accidentally witnesses Wu Tianling—formerly Wu Youtian—kill a Sword Pavilion disciple and seize his Gold Jade Lingzhi. Although Zhang previously contributed ten points to Wu’s sponsorship, Wu dismisses the payment as insulting and has his followers attack him 114 120.

Zhang retaliates with his peachwood sword, shield, and talisman treasure, killing Wu, Xu Junting, and their companions. The effort nearly exhausts his Law Power. He gathers their Storage Bags and hides until the secret realm closes, leaving with valuable spoils that include Gold Jade Lingzhi and supreme-grade Spirit Stones 121 131.

Wu’s Nascent Soul master, Ding Yue, confronts Zhang after his return. Rather than avenge Wu, Ding accepts Zhang as his replacement disciple. Ding explains that he also possesses a low-grade Spirit Root and recognizes something of his younger self in Zhang. His protection extends against bullying by seniors, but not against defeat by someone of Zhang’s own generation. Zhang formally enters the Seven Ingenious Workshop lineage by lighting a Soul Lamp with his divine soul 121 122.

Supporting Fang Yu and Entering the Battlefield

Zhang continues bringing Fang Yu alchemy work after gaining his new master. He later gifts him second-tier alchemy notes containing three pill formulas and detailed refining records, then supplies Gold Jade Lingzhi for an attempt at Foundation Establishment Pill refinement. He accepts the risk of failure and allows Fang to keep any extra pills 122 130.

After achieving Foundation Establishment, Zhang holds a celebration for disciples from his home region rather than abandoning his old connections. Liu Ruyan attends with a third-tier Myriad Manifestations Return to One Array as a gift. Zhang later tries unsuccessfully to recruit Fang into the Seven Ingenious Workshop faction and helps arrange Ruyan’s assistance with Fang’s cave-abode array 131 137 140.

Zhang and Ruyan eventually invite Fang to gain combat experience alongside them and the sword cultivator Yang Zhan. Zhang lends Fang a protective Law Treasure and teaches practical battlefield tactics. Over more than three years of raids, their group kills six Golden Core cultivators before abandoning a planned attack on Moonshadow Mountain after Fang warns of a possible ambush 146 147 150.

Heart-Questioning Cave

Following Feng Lin’s death in an ambush, Black Python demands that Zhang, Fang, Ruyan, and Yang Zhan be handed over. The sect instead orders the four to face the third level of the Heart-Questioning Cave in three years. Zhang informs Fang of the decision and deposits a Golden Core Formation Pill for him 152.

Inside the cave, Zhang becomes a tree bearing his own face; within the illusion, he peacefully naps in an immense forest. Fang uses the White Bone Sarira’s power to introduce a forest fire into the vision, prompting Zhang to recover from his wooden state. Before leaving, Fang takes a vitality-filled piece of dead wood that he believes could have greatly benefited Zhang’s wood cultivation 156.

Afterward, Zhang is recognized as a True Disciple but feels increasingly isolated. Ruyan refuses his visits, while Fang and Yang Zhan also withdraw into study or seclusion. Zhang wonders whether their distance stems from his being the only one who apparently gained nothing from the cave 159.

Sect Division and Final Conflict

Zhang continues delivering cultivation resources to Fang, eventually bringing the final allocation alongside news that the Ascension Immortal Sect has dissolved. He chooses to remain with the Seven Ingenious Sect. He also reveals that Ruyan intends to become Jiang Xiasheng’s dao companion to strengthen the Star-Splayed Sect through an alliance with Five Elements Peak 168 170 171.

Jiang sends Yan Wushuang to kill Zhang as an obstacle to that union. Fang intervenes and kills Yan, then promises to help Zhang confront Jiang. Zhang agrees to the plan, travels with Fang to the Star-Splayed Sect, and brings Yang Zhan to their prepared ambush site 171 172.

When Jiang appears, Zhang realizes that he has been followed. Fang then directly controls Zhang: red light appears in Zhang’s eyes, and he casts attacking vines at Jiang. Liu Ruyan subsequently reports that Zhang and Yang Zhan have both died; the supplied account does not establish Zhang’s precise cause of death 173 175.

Personality

Zhang is hardworking and acutely conscious of his limited natural aptitude. His decision to enter the Nine-Lock Azure Terrace is a calculated gamble against stagnation rather than ignorance of the danger. His confidence grows markedly after obtaining powerful equipment and Ding Yue’s backing, eventually extending to talk of hunting Golden Core opponents while still at Foundation Establishment 114 116 146.

He remains generous toward old friends as his position improves. He supplies Fang Yu with materials and inheritances, tolerates the possibility of costly alchemical failure, lends him protective equipment, and celebrates his breakthrough with fellow townsmen. Fang himself acknowledges genuine affection behind Zhang’s assistance 122 130 131 147.

Zhang can retaliate ruthlessly when threatened, but he is also emotionally vulnerable where his companions are concerned. Ruyan’s withdrawal troubles him deeply, and Fang’s promise of brotherly support moves him to tears. His trust in Fang contrasts with Fang’s concealed surveillance, manipulation, and eventual direct control 121 159 171 173.

Abilities & Skills

Wood-Element Law Techniques

Zhang possesses a Wood Spirit Root and uses vine-based techniques for restraint and attack 120 156 173.

• Earth-Binding Teng: Conjures vines to restrain a first-tier Demon Beast long enough to escape 120.
• Offensive vines: Sends numerous vines toward Jiang Xiasheng while under Fang Yu’s control 173.

Spirit Artifact and Talisman Combat

Zhang combines an offensive sword, defensive shield, and powerful talisman treasure to fight opponents beyond what his cultivation alone would suggest 121.

• Uses his peachwood sword to pierce multiple attackers and their protective spiritual light.
• Deploys the shield while replenishing his Law Power with high-grade Spirit Stones.
• Activates a firebird talisman treasure to kill Wu Youtian and Xu Junting.
• Suffers severe Law Power depletion from the encounter, requiring immediate replenishment 121.

Battlefield Experience

Zhang teaches Fang practical preparations and tactics for fighting stronger cultivators 147.

• Recommends protection against illusion and soul attacks.
• Stresses carrying pills that rapidly restore Law Power.
• Advises converting contribution points into usable combat strength rather than hoarding them 147.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• High-grade peachwood sword — Wood-element Spirit Artifact planted by Fang Yu; contains the hidden heart flame used to observe Zhang 117 119.
• High-grade shield — Wood-element Spirit Artifact obtained alongside the sword and used during the fight against Wu’s group 117 121.
• Firebird talisman treasure — Releases a gigantic firebird; Zhang identifies it as capable of Golden Core-level power 117 121.
• Copper Mountain Seal — Earth-element, low-grade third-tier Law Treasure taken from a Golden Core rogue cultivator. Zhang cannot use it himself and lends it to Fang for protection 147.
• Soul Lamp — Lit with his divine soul upon entering Ding Yue’s lineage; records whether its owner lives and can reveal events preceding death 122.
• Second-tier alchemy notes — An inheritance found during a mission and gifted to Fang Yu 130.
• Gold Jade Lingzhi — Obtained from the secret-realm expedition; exchanged for sect benefits and supplied for Foundation Establishment Pill refinement 130 131.

Relationships

• Fang Yu / Jiang Yao — Fellow townsman, trusted friend, and alchemist. Zhang repeatedly supports him with materials, resources, and equipment, unaware that Fang engineers his early “legacy,” monitors him, takes his cave opportunity, and ultimately controls him in combat 119 122 130 156 173.
• Ding Yue — Nascent Soul master who accepts Zhang after the death of Wu Youtian. Their shared low-grade Spirit Roots contribute to Ding’s interest in him 121 122.
• Liu Ruyan / Fairy Ruyan — Close companion and romantic attachment. They fight together, but she later distances herself and refuses his proposal to leave the Star-Splayed Sect with him 146 159 171.
• Yang Zhan — Recurring battlefield teammate and argumentative companion. Zhang recruits her for the final ambush against Jiang Xiasheng 147 148 172.
• Wu Youtian / Wu Tianling — Fellow disciple whose attempt to silence Zhang ends in his own death; Zhang subsequently takes his place as Ding Yue’s disciple 120 121.
• Jiang Xiasheng — Rival over Ruyan and organizer of the attempt on Zhang’s life. Zhang joins Fang’s ambush against him 171 172.
• Yan Wushuang — Assassin sent by Jiang to remove Zhang; killed by Fang before Zhang can fight him 171.

Notable Quotes

“I only have a Low-Grade Spirit Root, and breaking through to the middle stage was already difficult. I can clearly feel the bottleneck now. If I want to improve any further, I can only take a gamble in the secret realm.” 116

“Don't hold on to your contribution points. Turn them all into fighting strength...” 147