Wang Rulin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Wang Rulin (王汝邻)
Alias(es)	Shouyi Zhenren; the Righteous Old Man identity used within the Demonic Sect 47 526
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Mystic Sect, Sword Control Branch; Yunzhi Temple; one of the twenty-seven elders of the Rakshasa Ghost Market under a false Demonic Sect identity 47 160 161
Occupation/Role	Sword cultivator who abandoned the Dao for martial arts; master of Yunzhi Temple; Liang Yue's master; undercover operative within the Demonic Sect 47 54 161
Status	Last documented unconscious after confronting Kuo Muye 616
First Appearance	Chapter 47

Background / History

Wang Rulin was originally a Dao cultivator of the Mystic Sect's Sword Control Branch. In his youth, he was an exceptional sword-dao talent: he could independently form the Soaring Sky Sword Formation while in the late Sixth Realm, an accomplishment considered extraordinary even by Imperial Sword Sect standards. 311

After losing his sense of freedom, his Dao heart collapsed and his realm plummeted. He abandoned Dao cultivation for martial arts, integrating his former Daoist mental methods into a new martial path he named Sword Heart Unification. He later claimed to have traveled the martial world for twenty years without meeting an equal. 54

His past was tied to the cultivators later known as the Four Heroes and Three Wonders. He traveled with Yun'er—later the Flower-Wearing Nun—the Old Madman, and the Limping Monk while they upheld justice across the martial world. His relationship with Yun'er began as a secret romance, but family upheaval, his father's death, and the resulting events left lasting resentment and regret between them. 160

Twenty years before Liang Yue entered the Rakshasa Ghost Market, Wang Rulin infiltrated it under a false identity. He became an old demon's disciple, succeeded him ten years later, and filled the vacant position as one of the Market's twenty-seven elders. His long-term objective was to use that standing to prepare for the Demonic Sect's eventual resurgence and aid the Mystic Sect from within. 160 161

Personality

Wang Rulin is flamboyantly self-assured and relentlessly boastful, frequently attributing his disciples' accomplishments to his own “renowned virtue” or superior teaching. He is equally known for shamelessness, trickery, and opportunism; Wen Yifan introduces him with titles including “Mystic Sect's Number One Shameless,” “Human Backstab Ranking Leader,” and holder of 443 jianghu wanted orders. 47 262

His unorthodox worldview treats relationships, traps, hidden weapons, and deception as legitimate parts of survival. He teaches Liang Yue that an enemy is easier to approach as a dinner companion than as an open opponent, and he considers adaptability essential to real combat. 48 108 217

Behind his antics, Wang Rulin is highly protective of his disciples. He gathers rare materials for Liang Yue's cultivation, personally transmits sword intent when no visualization diagram is available, and repeatedly intervenes when Liang Yue faces overwhelming danger. 73 81 449 509

Abilities & Skills

Sword Heart Unification

Wang Rulin created Sword Heart Unification after combining Daoist mental cultivation with martial arts. The method tempers the sword heart and aligns it with Dao rhythm. 54

• A top-tier mental cultivation method capable of supporting cultivation from the First Realm to the Grandmaster Realm. 499
• Forms the foundation of Liang Yue's martial cultivation and swordsmanship. 54 72
• Its Dao-rhythm integration becomes increasingly important after the Sixth Realm, when martial cultivation shifts from technique toward the Way. 372

Three Absolute Swords

Wang Rulin's self-created sword art consists of Ascend Azure Sky, Ask the Moon, and One Sword Seals Immortals. 273

• Ascend Azure Sky — A movement and killing sword that can cover a hundred li in an instant in Wang Rulin's hands; Liang Yue uses a lesser form to cross more than ten zhang in one step. 155
• Ask the Moon — The second of the Three Absolute Swords, later used by Liang Yue to defeat Jiang Yan. 176 273
• One Sword Seals Immortals — Wang Rulin's ultimate technique, said to make even immortals difficult to defeat within ten feet. 273
• Wang Rulin has only completed three stances; he continues searching for a way to derive the fourth sword. 81
• Because powerful Mystic Art Masters refuse to assist him, the techniques lack formal visualization diagrams. He instead directly imprints sword intent into a disciple's Divine Palace. 81

Combat and Assassination

Wang Rulin is a formidable martial swordsman whose combat style favors speed, ambushes, and decisive strikes.

• He easily killed a Sixth-Realm devil cultivator after luring him out through a staged transaction. 81
• He uses powerful Gang Qi and sword strikes to disable or kill stronger opponents, including destroying the Brush Immortal Old Man's Qi channels. 449
• His reputation as a sneak attacker is well earned; many of his opponents are killed from behind in a single strike. 459
• He pierced Kuo Muye's arm during the final confrontation, though Kuo Muye immediately incapacitated him with a kick. 616

Demonic Sect Infiltration

Wang Rulin is an experienced undercover operator within the Rakshasa Ghost Market and Demonic Sect.

• He maintained a long-term stall in the Rakshasa Ghost Market to lure, trade with, and eliminate demonic cultivators. 81 158
• He possesses the authority to recommend entrants for Rakshasa Ghost Masks as one of the Market's twenty-seven elders. 160
• He secretly cooperates with Liang Peng and the Shadow Lord to reorganize and influence the Demonic Sect. 557
• He later plans to use the captured Demon Queen Tu Shan to lure out the Blood Venerable and create an opportunity for the Shadow Lord to devour him. 591

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Nameless — A spiritual sword commissioned from master swordsmith Mo Wuxie. Its name was accidentally engraved after Wang Rulin casually answered “Nameless” when asked what it should be called. He later gave it to Liang Yue, where it recognized Liang Yue's bloodline and integrated into his body. 50
• Demon Refining Gourd — A Wusheng Gate artifact Wang Rulin uses to collect battlefield malice, blood energy, resentment, and Demonic Qi. He claims the practice prevents the Demonic Sect from exploiting those energies. 556 557

Relationships

• Liang Yue — Direct disciple. Wang Rulin selected him after the Dianjin Orchid produced five immortal vines, then trained him under the condition that he represent the Yin Dynasty in the City Seizing Battle within a year. 48 49
• Bai Yuan — Disciple and caretaker of Yunzhi Temple. Bai Yuan manages the temple's affairs, spars with Liang Yue, and assists Wang Rulin with Liang Yue's Armor Forging Treasure Medicine. 54 55 82
• Wen Yifan — Fellow Sword Control Branch member whom Wang Rulin calls his niece. She introduced Liang Yue to him and supplied materials for Liang Yue's armor forging. 47 82
• Flower-Wearing Nun (Yun'er) — Former lover and longtime associate. Their relationship remains strained by old grievances, though Wang Rulin continues to pursue her openly. 160 398
• Deng Yunzi — Fellow member of the previous generation of Sword Control Sect disciples. They argue frequently, particularly over Liang Yue and Wen Yifan's talents. 359 556
• Sword King Sun (Jiang Cheng) — Junior brother from the Sword Control Sect and a rival Wang Rulin describes, inconsistently, as both an enemy and close friend. 160 216
• Wind Daoist and Cloud Zen Master — Old comrades who know Wang Rulin's habits well enough to warn others against betting with him. 73 273
• Demon Queen Tu Shan — Captive whose capture Wang Rulin conceals before using her as bait in his plan against the Blood Venerable. 581 591

Story Role / Major Arcs

Liang Yue's Apprenticeship

Wang Rulin tests Liang Yue's aptitude with a Dianjin Orchid, accepts him as his sole direct disciple after the orchid grows five immortal vines, and imposes a one-year deadline: Liang Yue must enter and win the City Seizing Battle or their master-disciple relationship will end. 47 49

He equips Liang Yue with Nameless, develops a dangerous Armor Forging Treasure Medicine from rare materials, and transmits the Three Absolute Swords directly through sword intent. 50 73 81 82

City Seizing Battle

Wang Rulin publicly bets Wind Daoist that Liang Yue can reach the required level within a year, wagering Nameless against the Divine Wind Twin Wings. 73

Liang Yue ultimately masters Wang Rulin's three sword moves far faster than expected, defeats Feng Nanjue with One Sword Seals Immortals, and secures the Yin Kingdom's victory. Wang Rulin's decision to force Liang Yue into the competition is recognized as a major reason the Yin Kingdom wins. 392 398

Demonic Sect Schemes and War

After his Righteous Old Man identity is exposed, Wang Rulin continues operating in the Demonic Sect while also openly aiding the Yin Kingdom's war effort. He collects battlefield Demonic Qi with the Demon Refining Gourd to deny it to hostile demonic cultivators. 526 551 556

He captures Demon Queen Tu Shan, coordinates with the Shadow Lord, and seeks to manipulate the Demonic Sect's leadership through a plan centered on the Blood Venerable. 581 591

Final Confrontation

Wang Rulin joins the battle against Kuo Muye and succeeds in wounding the Immortal Realm opponent's arm. Kuo Muye's overwhelming physical strength nevertheless knocks Wang Rulin unconscious almost immediately. 616

Trivia

• Wang Rulin is absent from the Reaching Heaven Ranking because he did not single-mindedly pursue realm advancement, though he claims fewer than ten listed experts could reliably defeat him. 54
• He was the previous record-holder for forming the Soaring Sky Sword Formation alone before Wen Yifan surpassed his achievement at a younger age and earlier stage of the Sixth Realm. 311
• He is permanently banned from Wall-Facing Temple and has accumulated 443 jianghu wanted orders. 47
• His temple, Yunzhi Temple, is located below Flowing Cloud Nunnery, where the Flower-Wearing Nun resides. 73