NovelPantheon

Ironwood Zhan

Late-stage Xiantian Ki RefinerhunterIronwood clan

Ironwood Zhan is a late-stage Xiantian expert of the Ironwood clan who lays an elaborate trap for the Azure Skysnake at Eastmount Marsh. He tries to kill Ji Ning after recognizing the boy's potential, but instead becomes Ning's first major victim after reaching the Xiantian level.

Biography

Preparing the marsh trap

Zhan spends heavily on the Yin-Yang Twin Energy Formation and hides in the aquatic grass for days, waiting for Ning's recurring duel with the Azure Skysnake to enter its range. When he sees the young mortal walking on water and using one-with-the-world swordplay, he concludes that Ning will become a future calamity for the Ironwood clan. He orders his Bi'an Tiger servant to prevent escape while he activates the formation around the snake. (Chapter 36)

Attempt to enslave the Azure Skysnake

The formation's black and white streams bind, grind, and repeatedly reform around the Godbeast. Zhan demands submission, arguing that capture by humans is inevitable, then reduces the force and offers a direct duel when pain fails to break her pride. The Azure Skysnake's newly awakened Void Blink evades his Blackwood Vinewhip and escapes, turning a long-prepared capture into failure. Zhan immediately redirects his rage toward Ning. (Chapters 37–39)

Battle with Ning

After Ning kills the Bi'an Tiger and breaks through as a Xiantian Fiendgod, Zhan turns the full formation against him. Ning's Waterflame Lotuses counter the opposing energies and force Zhan to spend the formation on defense. Recognizing that close combat is suicidal, Zhan abandons his flags and uses movement seals to flee. Ning's newly awakened divine will hurls trees, stones, and earth into his path, allowing the Waterflame Lotus and a final sword thrust to kill him. (Chapters 40–41)

Appearance and personality

Zhan has a half-red, half-white face, braided hair, and a vile, sinister aura. He is patient enough to prepare an ambush but impatient while waiting for prey to cross its exact boundary. His thinking is ruthlessly preemptive: talent alone makes Ning worthy of death. Confidence rests on preparation and clan status; once those advantages fail, he panics, invokes powerful connections, and flees. (Chapters 36–41)

Abilities and cultivation

Yin-Yang Twin Energy Formation

Eight flags draw on natural world energy to create endlessly reforming black and white streams. They entangle targets, grind scales and flesh like millstones, and can be redirected to protect Zhan himself. The formation is powerful against an ordinary Xiantian Godbeast but must be placed in advance, has a fixed area, and can be abandoned only at the cost of its flags. Ning's spontaneously formed Waterflame Lotus counters its pressure. (Chapters 36–41)

Blackwood Vinewhip

This nailed black whip is a famous Ironwood clan treasure. It extends into sweeping black arcs and can strike or restrain at range. The Azure Skysnake's Void Blink bypasses its coverage, while Ning's Watertight sword rotation deliberately lets the whip coil around his blade and then uses superior strength to seize it. Its reach does not overcome extreme mobility or close-combat disparity. (Chapters 37–41)

Late-stage Xiantian ki

Zhan's late-stage Xiantian cultivation powers formations, treasures, protective ki, and tracking methods. It makes him a famous regional expert and initially much stronger than mortal Ning. After Ning becomes an early-stage Xiantian Fiendgod through a supreme body-refining method, however, Zhan correctly judges that his own Ki Refiner body cannot survive direct combat. (Chapters 36–41)

Tracking and escape tools

Iceflower liquid helps Zhan track targets, while Divine Movement and Light Body Dao-seals stack speed boosts during his escape. A third seal creates a temporary golden protective layer. These consumables nearly let him escape, but external obstruction slows him until Ning can re-establish the Waterflame Lotus; the golden defense eventually cracks under sustained grinding. (Chapters 36 and 40–41)

Relationships

  • Ji Ning: Young threat Zhan attempts to eliminate and the opponent who kills him. (Chapters 36–41)
  • Qingqing: Azure Skysnake whom Zhan traps and tries unsuccessfully to enslave. (Chapters 36–39)
  • Bi'an Tiger: Xiantian spirit-beast and servant assigned to stop Ning; its death removes Zhan's mobile support. (Chapters 36–40)

Items

  • Eight Yin-Yang formation flags: Expensive array components abandoned during Zhan's flight and later collected by Ning. (Chapters 36–41)
  • Blackwood Vinewhip: Ironwood clan magic treasure seized by Ning after Zhan's death. (Chapters 37–41)
  • Jia Yong greatbow: Unadorned bow recovered from Zhan's storage armguard and later used by Ning. (Chapters 41 and 49)
  • Movement and protection Dao-seals: Consumables used to accelerate flight and delay the Waterflame Lotus. (Chapters 40–41)