Zhao Tinggui

Zhao Tinggui is Moon Lake Peak’s first disciple, an able negotiator whose sect duties place him in command of cultivators sent to the northern front. His calculations can be self-serving, but he also accepts responsibility for the disciples and families under his care.

Biography

Conscription for the northern front

When Ning Wan is in seclusion, Tinggui arrives in her place with an order to conscript cultivators. He presses Li Xijun to commit strong Li Family cultivators and seeks a rare life-extending herb for his junior brothers, calculating that their participation will secure Moon Lake Peak’s interests. Yet Li Xijun recognizes that Tinggui’s humble mortal origins, smooth manner, and evident kindness leave room for negotiation; the two settle terms for a costly deployment rather than leaving the first demand unchallenged. Tinggui then raises morale aboard the cloudliner by presenting the northern campaign as a chance to earn merit. (Chapters 745–747)

At the front, Tinggui condemns allies who hand over their own people and cultivators who pursue the enemy so far that the formation is left exposed. Later, an order transfers all of his Foundation Establishment subordinates away from Mount Yan Pass, and he worries that he cannot protect them at Chengshui Tomb. When Qinghong says she must go north, she asks him to watch over Li Yuexiang. Tinggui promises to treat the girl as one of his own peak’s disciples and explains that, orphaned young, he has always regarded them as siblings. (Chapters 756 and 798)

The fall of Mount Yan Pass

After Tang Shedu’s defection, the defense collapses and Murong Gong overwhelms Tinggui’s small force. Tinggui recognizes that the pass was left dangerously thin and blames himself for sending cultivators away; unable to find his disciples or Yuexiang, he tells Lin Wuning to escape with a Fortune-Rising Cloud while he tries to delay Murong Gong with the White Blossom Lamp. A later account describes Tinggui as dead, and Li Zhouwei refers to him the same way years afterward; the manner of his death is unknown. (Chapters 816, 858 and 1466)

Appearance and personality

Tinggui is a refined young man in white robes, usually courteous and smiling. In battle he is pale, bloodied, and grim, but he remains focused on the people entrusted to him and accepts blame when the defense fails. (Chapters 745, 798 and 816)

Abilities and cultivation

Tinggui’s strength is described as above average, but his techniques and spell arts do not match those of Murong Gong’s direct clan. He relies on several dharma artifacts temporarily granted by the Ning Family: a small golden cloud carries him through the air, while a white jade lantern—also called the White Blossom Lamp—sends out multicolored rays that block Murong Gong’s violet attacks. The enemy’s white radiance repeatedly disrupts the cloud’s activation, and the pursuit eventually forces Tinggui to stay behind rather than escape. (Chapter 816)

Relationships

• Ning Wan: His master and the peak leader whose orders he carries out. (Chapter 745)
• Li Xijun and Li Qinghong: He negotiates with Xijun over conscription; Qinghong later asks Tinggui to protect Li Yuexiang, and he agrees. (Chapters 745–746 and 798)
• Li Yuexiang: Tinggui promises to treat her as one of Moon Lake Peak’s own disciples and worries about her when the pass falls. (Chapters 798 and 816)
• Lin Wuning: His junior brother, whom he sends to seek help when Murong Gong catches them. (Chapter 816)
• Murong Gong: The enemy cultivator who overwhelms Tinggui’s force at Mount Yan Pass. (Chapter 816)

Items

Tinggui uses a small golden cloud and the White Blossom Lamp in his last known battle, then gives Lin Wuning the Fortune-Rising Cloud to escape. The artifacts’ later custody is unknown. (Chapter 816)