Cheng Jinzhu

Cheng Jinzhu is a Wanyu Sword Gate swordsman and refiner. His respect for the Li Family’s sword inheritance turns an initially difficult meeting with Li Xizhi into a lasting professional and diplomatic connection. (Chapters 516–518, 1036)

Biography

Respect for the sword lineage and service as envoy

Jinzhu initially dismisses Xizhi as another direct descendant of Azure Pond, which he regards as a devil sect. Learning that the visitor belongs to the Moongaze Li Family changes his attitude immediately: he apologizes, recalls the sect’s admiration for Qingche and Celestial Moon Sword Intent, and invites a spar. After parrying Xizhi’s single Celestial Moon move, he agrees to recast the captured Dinglin Piercer with cold materials as a Foundation Establishment sword. He leaves payment largely to Xizhi but insists on naming the finished work, combining personal enthusiasm with pride in his craft. The completed sword is Hanlin, which Kongheng delivers to Xijun for use with Threefold Moonlight. (Chapters 516–518 and 522)

The connection later makes Jinzhu an appropriate representative at Ximing’s celebration and guide at Sword Peak. After Changxi’s death, he brings the Sword Gate’s claim for the return of borrowed territory and Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain. The confusion of Kong Guxi and the Lis reveals how little the current dependents know of the old arrangement. Jinzhu repeats the claim but accepts Ximing’s proposal to transfer the territory while deferring the artifact’s return, explaining that his elders will not endanger Profound Peak merely to recover it. He also relays attempts to find formation assistance, giving the Lis a practical channel to the Sword Gate rather than relying solely on admiration for an ancestral swordsman. (Chapters 1036, 1053, 1108–1109)

Appearance and personality

Jinzhu first appears as a young man studying a blueprint. His cool glance becomes an embarrassed, enthusiastic welcome once he identifies Xizhi’s lineage. Later he bears a sword on his back and has a sharp gaze. His pride is accompanied by sincere admiration for accomplished sword Dao. (Chapters 516, 1036, 1108)

Abilities and cultivation

Swordsmanship and artifact recasting

As a late-stage Qi cultivator, Jinzhu quickly neutralizes Xizhi’s Celestial Moon sword arc through the inherited Wanyu sword technique. His refining judgment identifies the Dinglin Piercer’s strong metal as suitable for a Foundation Establishment sword; the proposed work requires cold jade or stone, is aided by Ni Water Cold Iron, and is expected to take two or three years. The proposed artifact grade does not make Jinzhu himself a Foundation Establishment cultivator at that meeting. (Chapters 517–518)

Relationships

• Li Xizhi: Friend and client whose lineage wins his respect.
• Li Ximing: Receives his later guidance and diplomatic messages.
• Kong Guxi: Bewildered gate master whom Jinzhu questions about Changxi’s borrowing.
• Ling Mei: Senior whose greetings and arrangements Jinzhu conveys. (Chapters 516–518, 1053, 1108–1109)

Items

Jinzhu accepts the Dinglin Piercer for recasting into the Hanlin Sword, made for Xijun rather than claimed as his own. The Qingche Sword is an admired ancestral weapon of the Lis, not his possession. Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain is the borrowed Sword Gate artifact whose return he requests on his gate’s behalf. (Chapters 516–517, 522, and 1108–1109)