Hong Jin is one of the strongly martial figures in Investiture of the Gods. He first fights for Shang, is later defeated by Princess Longji, joins the Zhou camp, and eventually marries her.
His defining ability is the Banner-Gate Escape Art.
A Shang General
Hong Jin first appears as a conventional battlefield commander. He rides a horse, carries a long blade, and leads soldiers against Zhou. Unlike adepts who rely entirely on magic, he can fight from horseback at close range. His art adds a supernatural layer to an otherwise recognizably martial figure.
The Banner-Gate Escape Art
Hong Jin plants a dark banner in the ground and turns it into a gateway. When an opponent follows him through, he uses the escape art to control direction and space, appearing suddenly from an unexpected position. Ji Shuming is killed after pursuing him into the gate.
Deng Chanyu recognizes that the gateway is dangerous and refuses to enter, attacking from a distance with the Five-Light Stone instead.
Princess Longji Breaks the Gate
Princess Longji immediately understands Hong Jin’s art. She explains that the dark banner forms the inner gate, while a white banner forms the outer gate.
When Hong Jin deploys his gate again, she raises a white banner and counters the inner gate with the outer one. She emerges from another direction, strikes his shoulder armor with her sword, and forces him to flee.
The Pursuit to the Northern Sea
Hong Jin escapes with earth techniques, but Princess Longji counters them with wood techniques and continues the pursuit. Near the Northern Sea he uses further transformations, including a whale-dragon manifestation, to resist her.
The sequence places Five-Phase escape methods and changing gates at the center of their encounter.
Marriage to Princess Longji
Princess Longji captures Hong Jin but does not kill him. Through an immortal arrangement, he joins Zhou and marries her. From then on, they take part in the eastward campaign together.
Death in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation
Hong Jin and Princess Longji later enter the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Jinling Sacred Mother kills Princess Longji with the Four Symbols Pagoda. Hong Jin immediately charges to avenge her, and Jinling kills him with the Dragon-Tiger Ruyi.
The couple die in the same battle, one after the other.