Old Zhang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

From Great Qi’s Heartland to the Frontier

Old Zhang lived in Great Qi’s heartland when he was young. Unwilling to remain in Early Qi Refining as he aged, he voluntarily moved to the border, where higher prices and greater opportunities offered a chance to advance. Worsening barbarian raids and roaming Demon Beasts eventually made leaving impractical 4.

At Shangyu Market, he sold talismans beside Qin Fei’s puppet stall. The two belonged to a close-knit group of five low-level rogue cultivator merchants alongside Li Tiezhu, Tang Zhan, and Xu Meiniang. When the Azure Wood Palace recruited disciples, Old Zhang was too old to participate; Tiezhu, Tang Zhan, and Meiniang entered the sect and remained away for five years 1 10 14.

Failed Cultivation Breakthrough

After years of saving through talisman sales, Old Zhang bought Qi Gathering Pills and Spirit Ascension Pills to overcome the bottleneck to Middle Qi Refining. By then, he was past sixty and his declining Qi and Blood prevented a breakthrough 10.

Unwilling to give up, he tried pills intended for Late Qi Refining cultivators. Their violent medicinal power failed to break the bottleneck and severely injured his meridians. Preparations made beforehand saved his life, but the damage ended his prospects of advancing. He subsequently shifted his attention toward raising his granddaughter, Zhang Youqing 10.

Craftsmanship and Qing’er’s Opportunity

Old Zhang continued improving his talisman work and became a First-Tier Talisman Master. To help Qin Fei achieve a similar breakthrough in puppetry, he bought him a first-tier Wooden Ox—unaware that Qin Fei had made the puppet himself. Qin Fei accepted the gift without revealing its origin 9 10.

During the same visit, Old Zhang announced that Fairy Caiyi had accepted Zhang Youqing as her disciple. Caiyi planned to take her to the Azure Wood Palace after the approaching barbarian raid. During the attack, Old Zhang unsuccessfully begged Caiyi to protect Qin Fei 10 11.

Assassination Attempt and Renewed Ambition

Old Zhang supported the opening of the Star Radiance Merchant Association with dozens of high-grade first-tier Vajra Talismans. Rather than accept payment, he asked his friends to collect talisman-drawing insights that might help him glimpse the accomplishments of a second-tier master 19.

Soon afterward, an assassin targeted him while he was returning home alone. Qin Fei’s warning allowed Wang Hu to reach him in time; the attacker escaped by sacrificing an arm. The experience made Old Zhang realize how strongly he still wanted to live and rekindled his desire to cultivate. He later accepted accommodation at the merchant association for safety 20 21 23 24.

Service to the Lin Household

Following the victory over the barbarians, Old Zhang became an Outer Sect Attendant supplying talismans to the Lin Household. He also recommended Qin Fei as a Puppet Attendant without consulting him, then persuaded him to accept by recounting their shared hardships 25 26.

His assignment required ten first-tier talismans each month for a stipend of five Spirit Stones. He found the quota easy to meet, but his low cultivation restricted him to outer-attendant status. Late Qi Refining cultivation or second-tier talisman mastery would qualify him for an inner-attendant position 27.

Heavenly Secrets Sect Ruins and the Lu Household Conflict

When the Heavenly Secrets Sect ruins were discovered, Old Zhang asked whether they contained a treasure capable of healing his meridians. Tiezhu confirmed that such a treasure existed, but warned that the ruins were far too dangerous for someone at the Qi Refining Third Layer. Old Zhang reluctantly abandoned the idea of entering 39.

During a Lu Household attack on their group, Old Zhang stayed behind with Qin Fei and Wang Hu so Tang Zhan could escort the pregnant Xu Meiniang to safety. Protected by Qin Fei’s Flame Martial Envoy, he unleashed his accumulated talismans and helped destroy a Seventh-Layer opponent. The three then reinforced Tang Zhan and killed the cultivators attacking him 41 42 43.

By the celebration of Qin Fei and Tiezhu’s Late Qi Refining breakthroughs, Old Zhang still wished to advance but had largely accepted his own limitations. He remained sincerely happy for his friends’ success 48.

Departure from Shangyu Market

After the Barbarian Tribe seized the secret realm, Old Zhang joined Qin Fei, Tang Zhan, Xu Meiniang, Tiezhu, and Wang Hu in attempting to leave Shangyu Market. They found the city gates closed under Daoist Fuchen’s lockdown order 56.

When departure later became possible, the group could not contact the absent Qin Fei because his voice transmission talisman was out of range. Old Zhang proposed visiting the puppet scrapyard to leave signs so Qin Fei could contact them upon returning, and his companions accompanied him to the deserted courtyard 74.

During the subsequent flight from the beast tide, Tang Zhan and his companions escaped on Zhang Yu Motor Vehicles. They shook off the pursuing beasts and reached Repel the North City among the first groups of displaced rogue cultivators 80 83.

Gu Poisoning in Repel the North City

Repel the North City provided empty residences for the refugees. Old Zhang selected a large courtyard house with enough side rooms for all his companions, including Qin Fei when he returned. While the others bought necessities, he stayed behind to plan the rooms and became embroiled in an argument with cultivators who also wanted the residence. Those cultivators had joined the local Blood Gu Sect, whose sect master was a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. To avoid provoking a powerful enemy, Tang Zhan and the others yielded the house and moved elsewhere 83.

Old Zhang’s health deteriorated after entering the city until he could no longer get out of bed. When Qin Fei reunited with the group, he found Old Zhang severely aged and barely able to rise from his stone bed. An initial examination with Divine Sense revealed nothing, but Qin Fei’s vertical eye exposed a Gu worm hidden in his chest. Qin Fei extracted the worm and burned it to ash 83.

Removing the Gu saved Old Zhang from immediate danger, but it had already devoured his vitality and greatly shortened his lifespan. Qin Fei suspected the Blood Gu Sect cultivators involved in the housing dispute and asked Tang Zhan to investigate. He initially kept the extent of Old Zhang’s lost lifespan from him and postponed retaliation until after his own Foundation Establishment attempt 83.

Old Zhang nevertheless recognized that his condition was serious. He asked Qin Fei to look after Youqing if he died, but Qin Fei reassured him that he could live for several more years and revived his spirits by joking about the inheritance he should leave behind. Before Qin Fei departed, Old Zhang urged him not to seek revenge, saying that his companions’ safety mattered more 84.

Later Life and Declining Cultivation

Old Zhang later attended a reunion at the Gathering Immortals Pavilion, where Qin Fei prevented him from drinking because of his poor health. Although he could once again move about freely, the damage to his bodily functions was irreversible. His cultivation had fallen to the Qi Refining Second Layer and was still declining, with Qin Fei unable to offer a remedy 95.

He accepted his condition, gave up cultivating, and spent his days walking and drinking tea. At the same gathering, Qin Fei invited his old companions to join the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and they accepted with Yunxiu’s welcome 95.

Personality

Old Zhang is boastful, quick-witted, and fond of wine and banter. He adopts Qin Fei’s sales tactics, exaggerates his products’ merits to attract customers, and frequently joins his friends for drinking sessions or uninvited meals 1 28 39.

His apparent stinginess often conceals generosity. He charged Qin Fei only two jars of wine for valuable talisman-drawing insights, giving his friend an excuse to accept help without embarrassment. He is also stubborn enough to pressure Qin Fei into accompanying him to the Lin Household, yet feels guilty when Qin Fei receives what appears to be a thankless assignment 4 10 26 27.

Despite his low cultivation, Old Zhang does not abandon his companions in danger. He tries to defuse Wang Hu’s confrontation with Qin Fei and later stands against Late Qi Refining attackers to help protect Meiniang 3 41.

His concern for his companions remains stronger than his desire for vengeance. Even after the Gu attack greatly reduces his lifespan, he asks Qin Fei not to stir up trouble on his behalf. He ultimately faces his declining health with acceptance, finding contentment in walks and tea rather than continuing to pursue cultivation 84 95.

Abilities & Skills

Talisman Crafting

A First-Tier Talisman Master capable of producing high-grade talismans 9 19.

• Practical instruction: His recorded insights cover brush grip, steadying trembling hands, and maintaining the correct mindset 4.
• Cross-disciplinary value: Qin Fei applies these techniques to inscribing puppet formation patterns, helping him complete the Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse 4.
• Reliable production: Supplying ten first-tier talismans each month leaves him ample spare time 27.

Talisman Combat

Old Zhang compensates for his weak cultivation through prepared talismans, whose power depends on their grade rather than the user’s cultivation 42.

• Elemental barrages: Alternates ice and fire talismans to overwhelm an opponent’s defenses 42.
• Feints: Mixes low-grade talismans into stronger attacks, making it difficult to judge which attacks require evasion 42.
• Limitations: His successful fight against a Seventh-Layer cultivator depends on protection and supporting fire from Qin Fei’s Flame Martial Envoy. He acknowledges that he could not have won alone 42 43.

Talisman Knowledge and Utility Techniques

• Truth-Telling Talisman advice: Explains that weakening a subject’s mental resistance can improve the talisman’s effectiveness; Qin Fei uses this advice when interrogating Yunxiu 13.
• Water technique: Summons a curtain of water for Qin Fei to see his disheveled reflection 27.
• Salesmanship: Uses public demonstrations, survival claims, and scarcity-oriented promotion to sell talismans 1.

Physical and Cultivation Limitations

• Damaged meridians: His failed breakthrough attempt leaves him unable to advance beyond the Qi Refining Third Layer 10.
• Depleted vitality: The Gu worm’s feeding greatly shortens his lifespan and permanently damages his bodily functions, despite its removal 83 95.
• Continuing regression: His cultivation falls to the Qi Refining Second Layer and continues declining. He remains mobile but no longer cultivates 95.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Storage Bag — Used to carry his talismans and gifts 19.
• Talisman reserves — Accumulates a handspan-thick stack of first-tier superior-grade talismans, expending heavily during the Lu Household battle 42 43.
• Talisman-drawing bamboo slips — Records of his practical experience, passed to Qin Fei in exchange for two jars of wine 4.
• Wooden Ox — gifted — Purchased for Qin Fei as a study aid; advertised as having eighteen zhang of storage space and an eighty-thousand-jin carrying capacity 9 10.
• Captured Storage Bag — Keeps battle loot after Qin Fei insists it should help offset the cost of his expended talismans 43.

Relationships

• Qin Fei — Longtime friend and neighboring merchant. Old Zhang once carried him across half the city during a cultivation crisis and shared food with him when he could not afford spirit rice 1 26. Qin Fei later removes the Gu worm threatening Old Zhang’s life and seeks to hold the suspected perpetrators accountable. Old Zhang asks him to care for Youqing if he dies, but urges him not to risk the group’s safety for revenge 83 84.
• Zhang Youqing / Qing’er — Granddaughter and the focus of his hopes after his own cultivation prospects collapsed. He is delighted by her acceptance as Fairy Caiyi’s disciple 9 10. Following the Gu attack, her future remains his foremost concern, prompting him to ask Qin Fei to look after her after his death 84.
• Li Tiezhu — Old merchant companion. Tiezhu initially withholds news of a healing treasure because he fears Old Zhang might risk entering the deadly ruins 10 39.
• Tang Zhan and Xu Meiniang — Longtime friends and merchant-association companions. Old Zhang helps protect them during the Lu Household attack 14 41 43. They later settle with him in Repel the North City; Tang Zhan recounts the housing dispute that provides the chief lead in identifying those responsible for Old Zhang’s Gu poisoning 83.
• Wang Hu — Saves Old Zhang from an assassin and later fights alongside him. Old Zhang publicly thanks him for saving his life 21 23 41.
• Fairy Caiyi — His granddaughter’s master. Old Zhang seeks her protection for Qin Fei during the barbarian raid, but she refuses 10 11.
• Blood Gu Sect cultivators — Rivals in a dispute over a courtyard residence in Repel the North City. Qin Fei suspects them of planting the Gu worm in Old Zhang, but Old Zhang asks him not to pursue revenge 83 84.

Notable Quotes

“If you really think it’s too much, then collect some insights into talisman drawing for me, so that I might glimpse the splendor of a second-tier talisman master in my lifetime.” 19

“Go! If you keep dawdling, we’ll all be finished!” 41

“Qin boy, there's no need to seek revenge for me. Don't stir up trouble. You've only just arrived here. As long as you all stay safe and sound, I can rest easy.” 84

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