Zhang Yan is the male protagonist in the novel “Dao of the Strongest.”

Born into humble beginnings, Zhang Yan didn’t have a famous mentor to uncover his talents. However, relying on his innate gifts and his ability to interpret text, he distinguished himself among the lower-level disciples. He seized opportunities and climbed the ladder, leveraging situations to carve out a place for himself amidst the struggles between families and the conflicts within master-disciple lineages.

Character Overview

Name: Zhang Yan

Aliases: Big Eyes, Senior Brother, Old Devil Zhang, Crimson Ark Demon Lord

Gender: Male

Appears in: Dao of the Strongest

Sect: Ming Cang Sect

Sect Position: Hall Master of the Du Zhen Hall

Race: Human

Character Introduction

Initially, Zhang Yan struggled for seven years in a post-apocalyptic world, dying while covering the retreat of a camp. However, he was reborn into the body of a similarly named youth. Having experienced death once, he was especially focused on cultivating immortality. Zhang Yan did not have a prominent family background, nor did he have a famous teacher to guide him. However, relying on his talent and wisdom in interpreting texts, he rose to prominence by deciphering writings for his fellow disciples. He shone brightly at the Dharma Writings Assembly, attracting the attention of higher-ups, thus securing cultivation resources and paving his own path towards the Great Dao of Immortality.

Personality Traits: Determined, intelligent, adept at leveraging circumstances.

Talent: Skilled at interpreting text.

Aptitude: Ordinary, but like flawed jade, he belongs to the Dao of Imperfection, making him the only one who can see and use the Flawed Jade.

Background: Common

Character Journey

Opening the Meridians: At the age of 19, Zhang Yan was reborn. At this time, he was just a nominal disciple of the Shan Yuan Temple under the Ming Cang Sect, only having learned some breathing exercises to strengthen his body. He successfully established his foundation by cultivating the “Eternal Stream Meridian Method.” At the Dharma Writings Assembly, he independently challenged the people from the Guang Yuan Sect, successfully making a name for himself and resolving the embarrassing situation where the sect was being blocked. Ultimately, he became an entry-level disciple of the Shan Yuan Temple. After completing the Yuan Cheng Entering Truth process, under the guidance of Luo Xiao, he found a secret Pearl Beach, obtained the Pearl King, and used it to cultivate the “Profound Origin Internal Reference Mysterious Record”, successfully opening his meridians.

Manifesting Qi: After successfully opening his meridians, he became a true disciple of the Upper Courtyard and opened his mansion on Ling Ye Island. Cultivating the “Taiyi Golden Book,” he cultivated in the Fire Cave of Ling Ye Island for a month, cultivating his first breath of true qi. Due to Tang Yan’s immortal opportunity, Wang Pan engaged Zhang Yan in a life-and-death challenge. In the end, Zhang Yan successfully killed Wang Pan with a plan, obtained all the pills and treasures of Crimson Cloud Island, and accidentally discovered a method to polish his true qi, accelerating his cultivation speed. Feng Chang tried to get Zhang Yan to learn alchemy, and worship Zhu Chongjiu as his teacher, in order to delay his cultivation progress. As a result, Zhang Yan became the object of Zhu Chongjiu’s revenge instead. Not only did he learn Zhu Chongjiu’s unique inner-defect alchemy, but his cultivation progress was not affected. Five months after entering the Upper Courtyard, Zhang Yan refined eighty-one breaths of pure true qi, officially entering the first level of Manifesting Qi, the “Initial Transformation of Qi Sea” realm. Three months later, with the help of the Moon Jade Technique and borrowing the evil energy in the Qi Cave, he reached the second level of Manifesting Qi. A month later, Zhang Yan officially entered the third level of Manifesting Qi with the help of the Ganoderma Elixir. In order to find a cultivation place with abundant spiritual energy, Zhang Yan entered the Small Demon Cave to cultivate. Encountering cultivators from the Blood Soul Sect, Zhang Yan succeeded in advancing to Profound Light in a desperate situation.

Character Relationships

Master: Nameless Old Taoist (suspected to be a split body of the Great Virtue Xuan Zhao)

Senior Brother: Zhu Chongjiu (alchemy master, head of the Pill Cauldron Courtyard, who taught the “Five Directions and Five Elements Grand Profound True Art” in place of the Nameless Old Taoist. Because they were both guided by the Nameless Old Taoist, he is a teacher in public but a senior brother in private)

Family: Zhang Zhan (second younger brother), Zhang Zhen (third younger sister), Zhou Youchu (ex-wife)

Friends: Ning Chongxuan, Qi Yuntian, Huo Xuan, Tao Zhenhong, Shan Yi, Fu Qingming, Yi YanJing

Disciples: Liu Yan Yi, Tian Kun, Wang Taiting, Wang Taiwei, Jiang Zheng, Wei Zihong, Han Zaocheng, Fu Baoxing, Yuan Jingqing

Subordinates: Jing You (attendant), Zhang Chan (errand runner)

Mounts: Jie Yao, Magic Space Dharma Ark, Dou Sheng Celestial Cicada

Character Abilities

Techniques:

“One Qi Purity Scripture”: The initial immortal cultivation entry-level mental technique. It is said that “the Dao produces one, one produces two, two produces three, three produces all things.” The “One Qi Purity Scripture” takes the word “one” as its foundation and can be said to be the beginning of thousands of Great Daos. Most orthodox sects in the world use this breathing technique as the most basic entry-level technique.

“Eternal Stream Meridian Method”: A Taoist method for foundation building before opening the meridians, obtained by Zhang Yan from Zhao Yuan.

“Profound Origin Internal Reference Mysterious Record”: A top-quality method for opening immortal meridians, but this technique is not only complex and vast, but also hides many risks. Without the guidance and adjustment of elders, it is easy to damage internal meridians, destroy one’s foundation, and lead to a lifetime of hopeless cultivation.

“Taiyi Golden Book”: A cultivation method obtained from a high-level person by Du You’s mother for cultivation after opening the meridians. It requires a middle-grade or higher meridian to cultivate and can be cultivated to the Profound Light stage. It is said that after completing the cultivation, one can melt metal in the Ming Qi stage and turn Qi into swords. If one can cultivate all the way to the Profound Light stage, the Xuan Light produced throughout the body can be comparable to flying sword magic treasures. After Du You’s death, it fell into Zhang Yan’s hands.

“Azure Cloud Secret Record”: A technique that Ning Chongxuan requested from his master, Sun Zhiyan, who relied on this technique to cultivate the Qi Sea Talisman Heaven Dharma Aspect and enter the phase-matching realm.

“Mystic Understanding Divine Agreement”: A method of power created by Great Virtue Yi Chong.

“Nine Numbers Primordial Spiritual Treasure Profound Bright True Scripture”: Passed down by the founding ancestor of the Ming Cang Sect, True Person Tai Ming, it is one of the few superior techniques that can be used to deduce the “True Imprint of Dharma Power” and achieve the Dharma Body of Yuan He.

Magic Treasures:

Flawed Jade: The Flawed Jade possesses an independent space. The flow of time within it is much slower than the outside world. Focusing one’s mind in the Flawed Jade allows one to deduce texts, as well as cultivate and deduce techniques. This is Zhang Yan’s greatest reliance since he began cultivating. The Flawed Jade is not truly flawed, but complete. The “flaw” is change, the loss of “one.”

Sword Ring: In the competition on Yingluo Island, Zhang Yan obtained the Fine Ring Sword, then became the leader of the top ten disciples and visited Shaoqing. There, he refined the top-grade Clear Rainbow Sword Ring.

River and Mountain One Qi Cloud Collection Chart: A magic treasure that can collect the five elements, obtained by Zhang Yan from Pu Yuzi of the Butianzhai. It later became a Treasure Spirit Realm, accommodating countless magic treasures. The True Spirit is named Zhang Gou, a rare True Spirit who is kind and diligent.

Little Pot Scenery: A true treasure used by Gui Congyao to open up a cave mansion, which Gui Zhenren passed on to Zhang Yan after reincarnation. It forms its own world, which can be used to open up a cave mansion and nurture spiritual veins. The cave mansions of the Zhaoyou Heavenly Pool lineage all came into being because of this treasure, which is also the center of the formation. The true spirit is named Zhang Jing.

Sheltering Earth Universe Leaf: Refined from the shell left by the old turtle demon Gui Congyao in the cave heaven, it can protect the body and imprison others. Later, real dragon bones and other treasures were refined into it to become a defensive true treasure, and the true spirit is named Zhang Ze.

Three Treasures Transformation Bead: Can create a doppelganger that simulates the aura of the body and spirit, and the doppelganger can use divine powers and arts.

Pixiu Immortal Lamp: Can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and was later given to Liu Yan Yi.

Moon Crossing Raft: Can travel outside the sky while consuming very little essence, and was later given to Zhang Chan.

Taiyi Golden Pearl: A Xiantian supreme treasure born in the second era of Bu Sutian, which was later relieved of the Great Dao restriction and re-refined into the Taiyi Divine Pearl.

Appears in

Novel: “Dao of the Strongest”