Li Chu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Li Chu (李楚)
Alias(es)	Little Daoist Priest Li; Yingli (Huaxu projection); Li Sanzhao (later Huaxu projection) 356 368
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator from a modern world 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Virtuous Cloud Temple; Virtuous Cloud Branch Temple; founder of the Chu Sect 209 433
Occupation/Role	Daoist priest, exorcist, temple master, monster hunter
Status	Active; leaves to continue exploring the world 574
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Unspecified level increase	2	Yu Qi'an recognizes that Li Chu's cultivation has improved; Li Chu attributes his growth to leveling rather than conventional cultivation.
Level 71	64	By this benchmark, his Divine Soul had strengthened enough that Xiao Bai's full-power illusion could not affect him. He later associates reaching this level with his emotions gradually fading.
Level 83	463	After rising to this level, Li Chu reflects on the change in his power while hovering above Broken Stele Mountain.

Background / History

Li Chu transmigrated from a modern world, where he had been a college graduate. On his first day in the new world, he wished to return home, but the wish was not granted. Nearly a year later, he was living as Yu Qi'an's disciple at Virtuous Cloud Temple on Ten Li Slope outside Yuhang Town. 1

Unable to practice Virtuous Cloud Temple's inherited cultivation method, Li Chu developed through a unique system: killing monsters for Experience Points. He initially hunted Lantern Monsters around Ten Li Slope with extreme caution, treating strength as necessary capital for survival in a world full of Evil Spirits. 1 2

His early victories against the Water Ghost of Black Water River and later supernatural threats revealed that his strength far exceeded his own expectations. Yu Qi'an eventually admitted that Li Chu's cultivation method was too different to assess by ordinary standards, advising him instead to preserve his nature and remain on the righteous path. 3 85

After reaching Level 71, Li Chu notices his fear, joy, anger, and other emotions becoming increasingly faint. Concerned that he might become heartless, he begins paying closer attention to his own state of mind. 106

Appearance

Li Chu is a young Daoist priest whose appearance is repeatedly described as extraordinary, to the point that strangers frequently recognize him by reputation or become visibly overwhelmed upon seeing him. 49 155 209

• Usually wears a clean azure or green Daoist robe with a white inner garment. 49 104
• Keeps his long hair secured with a bamboo hairpin. 49
• Has clear features, bright eyes, and an unworldly, composed bearing. 49 104
• His eyes gained a noticeable divine light after cultivating Iron Cloth. 11
• His appearance often attracts unwanted attention, including crowds in Divine Luo City and admirers among both humans and demons. 209 301

Personality

Li Chu is cautious, practical, and relentlessly self-improving. Even after repeatedly defeating powerful enemies in a single exchange, he focuses on weaknesses in his defense, speed, techniques, and knowledge rather than assuming himself invincible. 76 96 419

He follows a firm moral principle: protect common people, eliminate those who cause harm, and do not seek fame for doing so. He refuses Lord Canghai's enormous bribe because the latter continues harming innocents, and he treats demons as friends when they abide by his rule not to harm people. 10 64 274

Li Chu is polite but unusually literal in social situations. His calm responses regularly cause misunderstandings, particularly when others mistake his lack of romantic interest for indifference or arrogance. He gently rejects Gongsun Rou because he has never felt his heart stir for her or other young women, though he frequently dreams of a woman named Liu. 64 93

Despite his righteous nature, Li Chu values money as a practical means of cultivation and survival. He accepts paid work, seeks Qi Gathering Pills for Experience Points, and views monster hunting as both training and a route toward financial security. 152 365

Abilities & Skills

Spiritual Power and Leveling

Li Chu possesses a unique internal power he calls spiritual power. Unlike true qi, it grows through gaining Experience Points from killing monsters and consuming Qi Gathering Pills rather than breathing exercises or circulation methods. 2 152

• Channels spiritual power into swords, martial techniques, his body, and divine abilities. 11 98
• Gains Experience Points from Evil Spirits and monsters; Qi Gathering Pills provide a safer, smaller equivalent gain. 1 152
• His cultivation cannot be accurately measured through conventional realms, even by Yu Qi'an. 85
• Spiritual power directly released from his body dissipates quickly unless used through a technique or weapon. 2

Swordsmanship

Li Chu's primary combat method is a direct sword strike empowered by spiritual power. He commonly resolves threats with a single slash, including ghosts, demons, zombie armies, and powerful cultivators. 3 127 251

• Split the Black Water River to separate a Water Ghost from its source of power. 3
• Uses carefully measured fractions of spiritual power when full force would cause excessive collateral damage. 319 328
• Can project immense sword qi, including the Red Dragon-like strikes associated with the Chunyang Sword. 275 343
• His ordinary iron sword shattered after being overloaded against the Ghost King. 82

Chunyang Sword

An ancient sword formerly belonging to Daoist Fuyuan. Li Chu pulled it from Corpse Hiding Cave, broke its seal, and awakened it as the Chunyang Sword. 83 88

• Particularly effective against ghosts, gu creatures, and other sinister entities due to its righteous, pure-yang nature. 275
• Can be controlled remotely through Sword Control Technique. 230 246
• Its fire attribute is especially effective against Snow Maidens. 226
• Endured a direct strike against Li Chu's own body while killing Lord Canghai's possessing Divine Soul. 308

Iron Cloth

Li Chu adapted the ordinary martial Iron Shirt manual using spiritual power, turning it into a body-wide defensive art with no conventional weak point. 11

• Protected him from the Ghost King's Nether Fire. 83
• Allows spiritual power to reinforce any part of his body, including his hair. 11
• Can still be overcome by sufficiently powerful magical weapons or expert attacks. 11
• His lack of speed allowed the Jade Lynx to injure him despite his defense. 76

Mind's Eye Art

A perception technique that lets Li Chu observe qi, yin energy, fortune, and hidden abnormalities. 106 134

• Located the Water Ghost hidden beneath Luo City River. 216
• Determined that Liu Qinglian's Demonic Qi had likely been forcibly implanted. 134
• Helps him inspect an area's spiritual conditions and track supernatural threats. 106 216
• His strengthened Divine Soul makes him highly resistant to illusion and divine-soul attacks. 64 96 138

Martial Techniques

Li Chu enhances ordinary martial manuals with spiritual power, producing effects far beyond their intended limits. 98

• Sunflower Acupoint-Sealing Hand — Non-lethal immobilization technique; successfully left Little Yue'er unable to move for an entire night. 71
• Orchid Butterfly Cloud-Striding Step — Enables leaps of over ten zhang and effectively limitless chained movement; Li Chu can also pass through walls using it. 98
• Immobilization Technique — Used to freeze Yanzhao Sect disciples without killing them. 400

Sword Control Technique

After learning the hand seals and incantation from Du Lanke, Li Chu quickly mastered Sword Control Technique with the Chunyang Sword. 230

• Can launch the Chunyang Sword as a remote projectile. 230
• Can use it while in primordial-spirit form. 246
• Developed the high-speed Flying Fire Meteor attack for pursuit and execution. 290 547

Ten Thousand Sword Art

A high-level Great Snow Mountain sword art that creates and controls vast numbers of sword shadows. Li Chu received it from Li Maoqing and later demonstrated it at a scale far beyond conventional expectations. 396 412

• Creates a large-area sword formation for battlefield-scale attacks. 411
• Destroyed Broken Stele Mountain while defeating the demonic forces attacking it. 463
• Used spiritual perception and ten thousand swords to kill Teng River Old Ancestor across ten thousand miles. 549
• Its immense destructive range makes it unsuitable for situations where allies or civilians are nearby. 501

Immortal Gourd Dharma Body

Within the Gourd Grotto-Heaven, Li Chu obtained an Immortal Gourd Dharma Body with enhanced eyes and ears. 200 201

• Thousand-Mile Eye — Located hidden enemies and destroyed an island and underground palace with a full-power gaze. 200 203
• Wind-Following Ears — Enhanced hearing used in the search for the Snake Spirit and Scorpion Spirit. 200
• Spiritual Power Giant — Manifested a giant body and weaponry to defeat five elemental giants. 204

Transformation Art

Li Chu learned a transformation method connected to the Huaxu Secret Realm and Dao Seals. 336

• Transformed into a tree convincing enough to attract the Golden Phoenix. 353
• Took on projection identities including Yingli and Li Sanzhao in the Huaxu Secret Realm. 356 368
• Successfully underwent the Ice and Snow Ritual to become a snowman and enter Cloud Peak Fairyland. 415

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Chunyang Sword — Ancient pure-yang divine sword and Li Chu's principal weapon. 83 88
• Sword pouch — Carries the Chunyang Sword on his back. 88
• Iron sword — His former mundane weapon; shattered while attacking the Ghost King. 82
• Qi Gathering Pills — Consumable cultivation resource that grants small amounts of Experience Points. 152
• Vermilion Bird Feather Arrow — An assassination arrow that stopped before his forehead and submitted to him. 274

Relationships

• Yu Qi'an — Master and fellow resident of Virtuous Cloud Temple. Yu Qi'an cannot assess Li Chu's cultivation but guides his judgment and repeatedly entrusts him with serious matters. 2 85 208
• Wang Longqi — Closest friend and frequent companion. Li Chu repeatedly risks himself to save Wang Longqi, while Wang Longqi relies on Li Chu whenever supernatural danger arises. 106 408
• Du Lanke — Disciple. Du Lanke follows Li Chu on missions, learns sword arts, and seeks to become useful enough not to burden his master. 230 372
• Xiao Bai / Fox Girl — Fox demon friend who calls Li Chu “Master.” Li Chu refuses to bind her with a Spirit Contract, instead requiring mutual aid and a promise not to harm people. 62 64
• Little Koi / Liu Yue — Seven-Colored Koi companion whom Li Chu protects, educates, and helps cultivate through the Dragon Transformation Fruit. 93 104 324
• Li Xinyi — Purple-Clad Guard of Facing Heaven Pavilion and recurring ally in investigations. She initially mistakes Li Chu for a harmless charlatan due to his lack of true qi fluctuations. 13 125
• Gongsun Rou — A woman Li Chu rescues repeatedly. She confesses her feelings to him, but Li Chu gently declines. 85 93
• Wei Jiangli — Courtesan and ally from Divine Luo City. Li Chu agrees to surrender his body to Lord Canghai in order to save her. 223 307
• Liu Fufeng — Reincarnated cultivator and ally. He respects Li Chu's power and assists during the Northern Lands conflict. 167 487

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Ten Li Slope and Yuhang Town — Begins as Virtuous Cloud Temple's young Daoist priest, grinding Lantern Monsters before gaining prominence through the Water Ghost, Vengeful Spirit, and Corpse Hiding Cave cases. 1 3 82 85
• Hangzhou Prefecture — Saves Wang Longqi from Zhengqi Academy's scapegoat scheme, destroys the academy's Evil Spirit, and expands Virtuous Cloud Temple's influence. 106 113
• Divine Luo City — Establishes Virtuous Cloud Branch Temple, exposes the Yin Clan and Lord Canghai's conspiracy, and prevents disaster during the Flower Capital Assembly. 209 301 308
• Southern Border and Huaxu Secret Realm — Investigates the City of Immortal Slaughter, defeats the Eight-Demon Immortal-Slaughtering Array, and joins multiple Huaxu Secret Realm expeditions. 328 343 372
• Northern Lands and Broken Stele Mountain — Creates the Chu Sect under an assumed identity, infiltrates Broken Stele Mountain, and later destroys the mountain while repelling its demonic attackers. 433 441 463
• Golden Province and the Demon Realm — Defeats Golden Bodhisattva, confronts Little Kun King, and continues rescuing allies and masters targeted by major demonic forces. 487 555 560
• Final Campaign — Helps confront Yu Huasheng after the latter surpasses the Human Peak, then prepares to leave the Human Realm after the Star Beads are gathered. 570 573

Notable Quotes

“With great power comes great responsibility.” 85

“As long as you are still harming the common people, I will never possibly negotiate peace with the likes of you.” 274

“I can give it a try.” 548

Trivia

• Li Chu's worst academic result before transmigrating was second place in his province; he considers deliberately placing last in an examination an unusually difficult task. 110
• He often dreams of a beautiful woman named Liu, despite never feeling romantic attraction toward women he meets while awake. 93
• He declined Li Maoqing's invitation to enter the Immortal Sect Examination and serve in the Mountains and Rivers Bureau, preferring life at Virtuous Cloud Temple. 323
• Facing Heaven Pavilion awarded him silk banners reading “Bane of Evil” and “Guardian of the People.” 302