Line #37 Manhua/TheCelestialZone


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_celestial_zone.jpg]]
2	The Celestial Zone (often abbreviated as "TCZ") is a manhua series from Singapore by writer/artist Wee Tian Beng. The story takes place in ancient China during the Warring States Era, revolving around a group of people who are dedicated to the cultivation and pursuit of spiritual powers that grant them abilities beyond the ken of [[{{Muggles}} normal men]]. These extraordinary men and women are collectively referred to as being from ''The Celestial Zone''. However, it isn't all rainbows and sunshine in The Celestial Zone, as the pursuit of power led to the formation of two factions: the righteous way, the de-facto good guys who have [[ForGreatJustice benevolent and selfless goals]], and [[TheDarkSide the evil way]], who seek power solely for their [[AmbitionIsEvil self-centered and destructive ends]]. The plot revolves around the conflict between the two factions, and the various tales of those involved in the battle as good and evil fight for supremacy over the Celestial Zone.
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4	The original series debuted in 1999, concluding in the year 2003 and spanning a total of twenty-five black and white volumes. Since then, it has grown into a franchise in its own right, having spawned a spin-off adventure of one of its lead heroines, Chi [[ActionGirl Xue]] in a single-shot volume, as well as a proper sequel titled ''The Celestial Zone II'' which spanned the year 2003 to 2006, covering 40 volumes. A SpiritualSuccessor has since been created, a 40-volume long series titled ''The Celestial Zone 21'', which deviates from the usual Warring States setting and instead takes place in modern times, and featuring a more sci-fi feel instead of fantasy. A second proper sequel has since been launched, ''The Celestial Zone X'', featuring an almost entirely-new cast of characters, and recently concluding its run at its 32nd volume in March 2012. The story isn't over yet, however, as a follow-up series titled ''The Celestial Zone X-2'' was announced and launched as of April 2012, taking over from where the previous series left off.
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6	As of August 2018, The Celestial Zone X-2 has officially finished its run. With the conclusion of TCZ X-2, Wee Tian Beng has announced that he would be taking a hiatus from TCZ-related stuff and began a new series titled Manhua/NeoEra, which is his first non-TCZ related series in nearly two decades.
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8	----
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10	!! The Celestial Zone provides examples of the following tropes:
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12	[[foldercontrol]]
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14	[[folder:Tropes common to the TCZ franchise in general]]
15	* ActionGirl: Pick a TCZ series, ''any'' series. Chances are you'll have a ''far easier time'' listing which members of the female cast aren't a straight-laced example of this trope.
16	* AmbitionIsEvil: Whether in the Warring States or in modern times, one thing that never seems to change is how the writer likes to portray how uncontrolled desire for power and prestige will often lead one towards the MoralEventHorizon.
17	* BeautyEqualsGoodness: There are some [[SubvertedTrope subversions]] here and there, but this trope is more often played straight than not.
18	* InvisibleToNormals: Subverted; {{Muggles}} can normally see the people of The Celestial Zone, which is why they take great care to avoid showing off their powers when in front of normal people in order to maintain the {{Masquerade}}.
19	* NeverFoundTheBody: In a manner similar to becoming [[Franchise/StarWars one with the force]], barring a few exceptions, most characters [[EverythingFades tend not to leave a body behind upon death]].
20	* OnlySixFaces: A commonly-received critique from the fanbase on Wee Tian Beng's art style.
21	* RightMakesMight: Played straight as an arrow throughout, making the entire franchise as a whole sit uncompromisingly on the idealistic end of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism. But considering the almost universal inspiration from the {{Wuxia}} genre throughout, this is almost a given.
22	* TheStarscream: Every villainous faction will invariably always have one traitor.
23	%%* WorldOfBadass
24	[[/folder]]
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26	[[folder:Tropes specific to TCZ, TCZ II and TCZ X]]
27	* AffablyEvil: [[CoolOldGuy Blazing Sun]], TheDragon (in ways more than one) to [[BigBad Moon Monarch]]. Of all things considered he's actually a rather nice guy so long as you don't cross him, even being polite enough to kindly request the heroes to back down so that they needn't fight him and face [[HopelessBossFight certain defeat]].
28	* BigBadWannabe: The [[JerkAss Crown]] [[DirtyCoward Prince of Wei]]; after killing an injured Xuan Hua Divine and claiming what remained of his spiritual powers for himself, proceeded to dub himself the "Xuan Hua Heavenly King". Turns out that he's [[PaperTiger all bark and no bite]].
29	* CardCarryingVillain: The ''Evil'' Way. You can't get clearer than that.
30	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: It's made very clear that [[SupernaturalMartialArts spiritual powers]] in TCZ are the result of intense training, discipline and self-cultivation.
31	* {{Determinator}}: The climactic battle in TCZ between Moon Monarch and Xing Ling + Chi Xue plays this in spades for both sides.
32	* EnemyCivilWar: Among the followers of the [[TheDarkSide Evil Way]] in The Celestial Zone, like their good counterparts are also divided into numerous sects, which often do not see eye-to-eye with one another. A good part of the story in the first series revolved around a long-standing rivalry between two of the largest sects in the Evil Way.
33	* FauxAffablyEvil: Two words. [[ManipulativeBastard Moon]] [[BastardUnderstudy Monarch]]. First introduced as a rather [[FemmeFatale elegant and classy villainess]], but is eventually revealed to be a monster.
34	* HighFantasy: TCZ X is this, with {{Wuxia}} elements combined.
35	* MeaningfulName: A good deal of the TCZ cast. Chi Xue when translated from Chinese meant "Crimson Snow", which matches the heroine's red hair, red-themed wardrobe, and her [[StiffUpperLip (seemingly)]] [[SugarAndIcePersonality frosty demeanor]]. Xing Ling means "Happy And Agile", and she's indeed as [[GenkiGirl happy as they come]], not to mention ''[[SuperSpeed fast]]'' [[LightningBruiser as hell]].
36	* MonstrosityEqualsWeakness: As followers of the Evil Way move up the in-universe SortingAlgorithmOfEvil (shown below) their appearance gradually becomes more human-looking as they become stronger. Case and point, the weakest of {{Mooks}}, the Ghosts, tend to resemble [[TheBrute hulking humanoids]] with malformed facial features. Those at the Demon stage look perfectly human, save for scary-looking eyes (typically featuring HellishPupils or [[GlowingEyesOfDoom a constant glow]]. Those at the Evil Spirit level and above tend to be completely indistinguishable from normal humans appearance-wise.
37	* MookHorrorShow: Any time [[ActionGirl Chi Xue]] descends upon an army of Evil Way followers the ensuing battle - [[CurbStompBattle if it can be called one]] - inevitably turns into this, with Volume 3 of TCZ I having the most memorable instance ever. Incidentally this volume was also intended to be an EstablishingCharacterMoment for Chi Xue, what with that particular volume being aptly titled ''Destroyer of Evil: Chi Xue''.
38	* OneWingedAngel:
39	** [[AxCrazy Xuan Tian Crow]]'s SuperMode, ''Lethal Blood Transmutation'' is made of this trope. [[PowerGivesYouWings She even gains literal wings in the process]].
40	** The ''[[SuperMode Demonic Combination]]'' used by Demon-class {{Mooks}}, with a good helping of BodyHorror thrown in. [[spoiler: Two Demons fuse together at the torso when they use this power-up, gaining a two-headed, four-armed composite form in the process.]]
41	* RankScalesWithAsskicking: Played straight by all generals in the [[EvilArmy Opus Diaboli]], with the notable [[AvertedTrope exception]] of [[TheBrute Hippu Triocculus]], who turns out to be more of a DirtyCoward.
42	* SdrawkcabName: For the Mazakala characters, this often also overlaps with MeaningfulName. Guess what [[{{Invisibility}} Elbisivni]] means when spelled backwards? And incidentally, Mazakala is "Alakazam" spelled backwards, rather fittingly for a realm that is dominated by FunctionalMagic.
43	* SentientCosmicForce: The Aura of Emei.
44	* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: In-universe example provided by [[MrExposition Wang Chan]], that the followers of the Evil Way go through four stages of progression in their self-cultivation, in order from weakest to strongest - Ghosts, Demons, Evil Spirits, and finally Ultimate Evil.
45	* SuperMode: Wee Tian Beng seems to be absolutely in love with this trope. A good deal of TCZ characters have a SuperMode in one form or another to boost their badass levels when the situation calls for it. Even the lowly {{Mooks}} have powered-up forms, (mostly of the TurnsRed or OneWingedAngel variant) although [[CurbStompBattle it's not like it does them any good]] when up against the good guys.
46	* SupernaturalMartialArts: The aforementioned spiritual powers of The Celestial Zone, although their effects often border on being magical.
47	* {{Wuxia}}: TCZ I and II is all about this, with elements of HighFantasy mixed in.
48	[[/folder]]
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50	[[folder:Tropes specific to TCZ 21]]
51	* AffablyEvil: The series' BigBad [[WellIntentionedExtremist Tai Yi Dao]] has this in the spades. Well-mannered, [[WickedCultured cultured]] and an all-around pleasant person to hang around with, so long as you don't oppose his plans, that is.
52	* AntiVillain: [[PlayingWithFire "Flaming Raptor"]] Tang Li
53	* AuthorAvatar: The fanbase seems divided on whether it's [[TheHero Mi Sheng]] or [[EccentricMentor WTB]]... possibly both.
54	* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Subverted by villains [[BigBad Tai Yi Dao]] and [[AnIcePerson Isha]], played straight by just about everyone else.
55	* BrokenPedestal: Sensei Mayana, formerly a mentor to the good guys. Now a mercenary who is willing to kill anyone as long as the price is right.
56	* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: [[BastardUnderstudy Alice]], [[TheStarscream Alice]], ''[[JerkAss Alice]]''. Throughout the course of TCZ 21 she's changed her group affiliations no less than ''twice'', starting out as a member of Senba Zuru's Crane Shadow Gang and girlfriend to Senba's adoptive brother Kenny. A few volumes later, she double-crosses Senba and ditches [[ShockAndAwe Kenny]] to hook up with the Hermes Corps via agents [[PlayingWithFire Tang Li]] and [[PsychoElectro Bao Er]], and did absolutely nothing to dissuade Bao Er from laying a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown onto her ex-boyfriend. Many more volumes later, the pattern would repeat itself as she tried to turn against [[BigBad Tai]] [[AffablyEvil Yi]] [[NobleDemon Dao]], deciding that she would be better off as the big boss. It [[KarmicDeath didn't]] [[TooDumbToLive end well]] for her.
57	* CityOfAdventure: Singapore, where the action takes place!
58	* DarkActionGirl: [[PoisonousPerson "Black Cross"]] [[{{Goth}} Alice]], [[PsychoElectro "Lightning" Baoer]], as well as to a lesser extent [[WolverineClaws "Phantasmal Talons"]] [[PrehensileHair Donna]].
59	* DarkerAndEdgier: Noticeably more grimdark (as grimdark as Wee Tian Beng's works can get anyway) compared to the other series in the franchise, due to a higher incidences of FaceHeelTurn as well as more instances of named characters being KilledOffForReal compared to the other series. In addition, the BigBad is a MisanthropeSupreme who believes that HumansAreTheRealMonsters... [[spoiler: And TheHero [[WhatTheHellHero actually agrees with him]]! [[HumansAreFlawed But only to a certain extent]].]]
60	* FaceHeelTurn: Sensei Mayana, supposedly a highly-respected mentor of Omni and Lavender was revealed to have turned heel sometime before the events of TCZ 21, and in main plot itself Chekov also pulled a FaceHeelTurn of his own.
61	* GunsAreWorthless: Granted, there had only been a total of two onscreen instances where {{Muggles}} get to face off against Espers with firearms. The results were... [[CurbStompBattle rather predictable]], in the Espers' favor. Bullets don't seem to do jack to Espers at all, it seems.
62	* MusclesAreMeaningless: [[TheBrute Explosive Blast]] [[DavidVersusGoliath learns this the hard way]] as he tries to take on a higher-ranked Esper possessing [[SuperStrength similar powers]] [[SuperToughness to himself]], learning a painful lesson that size has no bearing on one's power level as an Esper. Cue one of the most one-sided CurbStompBattle ever in TCZ 21, as the [[PintSizedPowerhouse diminutive]] Omni Skyporter easily hands his larger opponent his ass.
63	* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The ''Pillars of Hermes'', the BigBad's personal enforcers, and some of the most powerful Espers known to man.
64	* UrbanFantasy: TCZ 21 leaves behind the {{Wuxia}} fantasy elements and takes place in modern times, in the island metropolis of Singapore.

Context Manhua / TheCelestialZone