Patriarch Hunchback

Patriarch Hunchback, whose name is Yuan Daozi, is the Fifth Peak patriarch who moves from skeptical observer to loyal Blood Prince supporter and dies shielding Meng Hao.

Biography

Alchemy protector and Fifth Peak elder

Yuan Daozi first appears as a mid-Nascent-Soul Alchemy Protector accompanying Violet Furnace Lord An Zaihai. By the time Meng Hao returns as Blood Prince, he is the white-haired, walking-stick-bearing patriarch of the Blood Demon Sect's Fifth Peak. He initially watches the newcomer with amused skepticism, repeatedly predicting that Meng Hao's aggressive campaign against the other peaks will soon be stopped. (Chapters 235 and 704–708)

Acceptance of the Blood Prince

Each prediction fails as Meng Hao forces hostile peak leaders to submit. Yuan Daozi finally discards detachment, gives his name, and publicly offers respects to the Blood Prince. He later takes Wang Youcai as a disciple, greets Meng Hao on his return, and assumes responsibility for Fifth Peak's preparations for the coalition war. His loyalty grows from observed conduct rather than blind obedience. (Chapters 709–733)

Burning life to hold three legacies

When three enemy legacy treasures break through the sect's defenses and Meng Hao is exhausted, Yuan Daozi steps between them. As successive attacks land, he burns through his remaining life: the hunchback straightens, his body regresses from old man to middle-aged man, youth, and teenager, and his cultivation climbs from First through Third Severing. The released lifespan lets him hold all three treasures long enough for Meng Hao to retreat. He dies, but his blood sullies the treasure components and temporarily removes them from the assault. (Chapters 738–740)

Appearance and personality

He begins as a white-haired hunchback leaning on a walking stick. His fatal technique literally straightens and rejuvenates him as stored life is consumed, making appearance a visible measure of the sacrifice. Verbally he is dry, experienced, and inclined to understate danger; once convinced of Meng Hao's worth, that caution becomes steadfast loyalty rather than continued cynicism. (Chapters 704–709 and 739)

Abilities and cultivation

Spirit Severing foundation

As Fifth Peak patriarch he possesses Spirit Severing cultivation and can organize a mountain peak for war. His ordinary level is below the three combined legacy treasures, which is why stopping them requires life-burning rather than routine combat. (Chapters 733 and 738–739)

Lifespan-burning rejuvenation

Yuan Daozi converts remaining life force into temporary cultivation. Each stage makes his body younger and his back straighter while raising him through the Severings, culminating in Third Severing strength. The operation is irreversible: youth here signals that his lifespan is being exhausted, and the final increase ends in death. (Chapter 739)

Legacy-treasure contamination

By taking the attacks directly and saturating the subcomponents with his blood and death, he sullies the Solitary Sword, Golden Frost, and Li Clan legacy treasures. This does not destroy their full inheritances, but makes the deployed components fall and buys a defensive interval. (Chapters 739–740)

Relationships

• Meng Hao: Initially doubts his methods, later acknowledges him as Blood Prince, prepares for his war, and dies to save him.
• Wang Youcai: Accepted as Yuan Daozi's personal disciple after Meng Hao's rise.
• An Zaihai: The Violet Furnace Lord whom he accompanies as Alchemy Protector in his early appearance.

Items

• Walking stick: Part of his elderly Fifth Peak appearance; no independent supernatural effect is stated.