Lin Xu

Biodata

Power Progression

The mystic arts have no formal realms or levels; Lin Xu’s progress is measured by the power he acquires, converts and learns to control 8.

Background and History

Lin Xu died young in a previous life and was reborn in a Marvel universe. His mother died when he was young, and his father, a Chinese restaurant owner, later died in a gang shootout. Lin Xu became wealthy and acquired shares in Stark. The Ancient One observed him from his arrival, learning from Eternity that beings like him could create miracles 1 4 58.

After hearing of Stephen Strange’s car accident, Lin Xu ordered his assistant Daisy to have Christine Palmer’s body switched and preserved. Nick Fury carried out the replacement, splitting the timeline. The Ancient One warned that Lin Xu’s attempt to save Christine could draw Dark Strange to Earth and lead to its destruction 1 4.

At Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One recognized his strong spiritual power and took him as a disciple. Odin subsequently gave him divine power, Gungnir and the flying horse Grani, and the two became sworn brothers 5 6 10.

Appearance

Lin Xu is a Chinese man recorded as 182 centimeters tall and weighing 75 kilograms 1.

• Heavenly Eye: Oshtur’s teardrop appears between his brows when manifested 93 94.
• Divine attire: His transformed appearance combines Hoggoth’s Bone Armor, the Crimson Cloak and his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade 94.
• Angelic form: Michael’s Ancient Angelic Body technique lets him enlarge himself to at least ten meters 164.

Personality

Lin Xu is cautious about threats he cannot gauge, but often hides that caution behind jokes and apparent bravado. He admits that fear of Dormammu influenced his decision to leave for another universe, and he takes precautions even when accepting an alternate Odin’s offer of power 31 46.

He is resourceful and opportunistic, using knowledge of other timelines to find advantages and exploiting loopholes when conventional solutions fail. He can also be compassionate: he heals Cassia, brings an injured snow leopard for treatment and tries to protect Asgard despite being offered an easier way to remove the restriction on his power 19 94 97.

His humor frequently takes the form of teasing and bargaining. He persuades Wong to part with a Sling Ring by promising a meal, repeatedly insists that Tony call him uncle, and proposes friendship to Constantine while joking about Constantine sacrificing himself 6 56 147.

Abilities & Skills

Divine Power and Body

Lin Xu converts Odinforce into crimson divine power of his own, using it to strengthen his body and fuel his magic 22 44.

• Broke Wong’s Crimson Bands through brute force shortly after receiving Odinforce 12.
• His later physical durability stopped Loki’s dagger without injury 114.
• His converted power remains usable beyond its original world after the Asgard Lock is broken 97 146.

Mystic Arts

Lin Xu studies at Kamar-Taj and later practices White Magic under Oshtur 6 96.

• Portals: Opens Mystic Portals for travel and surveillance, and later learns to open Dimension Portals 25 36.
• Healing and restoration: Cured Cassia using two energy-intensive healing arts 19.
• Astral Projection: Drew Bucky’s soul from his body while removing Hydra’s control 84.
• Energy Projection: Can shape energy into beams, waves and other projectiles 14.
• Hoggoth’s Hoary Hosts: A defensive art that manifests a giant white tiger phantom when used with Hoggoth’s bone armor 32.
• Limitation: In another world, basic Kamar-Taj and Vishanti magic still worked, but spells exclusive to Marvel’s dimension lords were difficult to cast 146.

Heavenly Eye

Oshtur’s teardrop became an eye on Lin Xu’s forehead 93.

• Sees through illusions and distinguishes truth from falsehood and good from evil 93.
• Automatically protects him and fires energy beams 93 102.
• Can see through physical obstructions, including water and buildings 117 149.

Angelic Abilities

Lin Xu’s angelic power grows through judging angels rather than merely with the passage of time. He later learns to enlarge himself using the Ancient Angelic Body 160 164.

Equipment and Items

• Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade — Forged by Eitri from Gungnir and the Tyrant’s Butcher Blade. It can change form, summon the Bifrost and grant the blessing “Favorable Weather and Good Harvests” 66 75.
• Eye of Agamotto — Given to him by Agamotto without its original Time Stone; it can temporarily shield him from a timeline’s perception and is useful for investigating magic and time 18.
• Hoggoth’s Bone Armor — Armor made from Hoggoth’s bone. It absorbed the Flame of Vengeance and enhances his use of Hoggoth’s Hoary Hosts 18 32 37.
• Crimson Cloak — Given by Cyttorak, who says it grants immunity to 99% of Infinity Stone attacks 50.
• Mjolnir — An alternate-universe hammer that lets him wield the Power of Thor; he uses it against Kaecilius 122 125.
• Grani — Odin’s flying horse, able to assume the form of an orange cat 10 31.

Relationships

• The Ancient One — Lin Xu’s teacher and frequent sparring partner in verbal exchanges. Her warning about Dark Strange shapes much of his preparation 4 6 102.
• Odin — Gave Lin Xu divine power and became his sworn elder brother. A different Odin later tried to take Lin Xu’s body 10 46.
• Wong — A Kamar-Taj sorcerer whom Lin Xu befriends with the promise of food; Lin Xu eventually gives him free meals for life at Nine Sun Restaurant 6 76.
• Stephen Strange — Lin Xu seeks a way to restore Christine without undoing Strange’s path to becoming Sorcerer Supreme 135.
• Tony Stark — An ally whom Lin Xu persistently calls his nephew. Lin Xu sends an alternate Tony instructions to rescue Scott Lang 31 56.
• Thor and Loki — Treat Lin Xu as their uncle under his Fengxian Borsen identity 33 85.
• Logan — Met Lin Xu at Old Sam’s farm and later called him a friend 19 23.
• Oshtur — Gave Lin Xu his Heavenly Eye and taught White Magic while he studied alongside her students 93 96.
• Lin Changkong — Lin Xu’s distant cousin, addressed as uncle; he helped arrange Lin Xu’s father’s funeral 58.

Story Role and Major Arcs

Christine and the Split Timeline

Lin Xu’s intervention after Christine’s death splits the timeline. The Ancient One warns that saving her may bring Dark Strange to Earth. Lin Xu later explains a proposed loophole: preserve Christine’s body and retrieve her from the future after Strange becomes Sorcerer Supreme 4 135.

Multiversal Travels and the Time Heist

After receiving Odinforce, Lin Xu travels between universes, meets Logan and helps his allies. In another universe, he contacts Wong and Tony to help rescue Scott Lang. He joins the effort to obtain the Infinity Stones and, on Vormir, kills the Red Skull after Romeo’s attempted sacrifice fails 19 23 31 37.

Infinity Ultron and Multiversal Uniqueness

In a universe threatened by Infinity Ultron, an alternate Odin attempts to take Lin Xu’s body. Lin Xu survives, and later uses Crimson Power against Ultron. Afterward, he discovers that his counterpart in another timeline caused the crash that killed Christine. The Ancient One determines that Lin Xu is multiversally unique: when timelines split, he exists in only one of them 46 52 59 113.

Training for Dark Strange

Lin Xu seeks additional time to convert divine power by traveling to another universe with a Quantum Tunnel. He receives Oshtur’s Heavenly Eye, has Bor remove the Asgard Lock on his body and trains on Sakaar after the Ancient One exposes his lack of combat experience 76 93 97 102 105.

As Dark Strange approaches, Lin Xu prepares with the Avengers and fights him using his divine body, armor, cloak and blade 135 140.

A Different World and Heaven

Lin Xu lands in a universe with another Tony and a young Clark. Seeking a way home, he finds John Constantine in Los Angeles and becomes involved with angels and demons. After his angelic power grows through judging angels, he enters Heaven, where Michael calls him God’s newly acquired son and teaches him the Ancient Angelic Body 144 147 160 162 164.