Yuan Ming

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yuan Ming (袁铭)
Alias(es)	Nether Moon God; Mingyue God 710 711
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Founder of the Mingyue Cult; member of the Yunhuang Alliance; formerly associated with Jade Luo Cave 680 711
Occupation/Role	Three-path cultivator; incense maker; alchemist; formation master; founder and deity of the Mingyue Cult 230 711 1016
Status	Alive 1067
First Appearance	Chapter 12

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining — initial mana condensation	14	Re-cultivated the Nine Yuan Art after obtaining it through possession; formed a mana vortex and independently used the Fur Transformation Technique.
Qi Refining — Fourth Level	42	Reached the fourth level in roughly half a year; his White Ape transformation gained substantial physical strength.
Qi Refining — Sixth Level	100	His mana and first-layer Nether Moon Art gave him divine sense exceeding ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.
Qi Refining — Ninth Level	142	Improved the speed and power of techniques such as Wood Thorn Technique and Wood Prison Art.
Foundation Establishment	237	Established his foundation after three days of seclusion, markedly increasing his mana purity, volume, and divine sense.
Core Formation	355	Gained a lifespan of five to six hundred years and sufficient influence to resist threats from major sects.
Nascent Soul	626	Recognized publicly as a Nascent Soul cultivator after rising from an unknown rogue cultivator.
Myriad Manifestations Body	698	Broke through in body cultivation while surrounded by Asuras, then defeated them and escaped an underground array.
Void Return	757	Achieved the unprecedented combination of Void Return mana cultivation, Speech Witch soul cultivation, and the Myriad Manifestations Body.
Dharma Aspect	890	Condensed a towering Dharma Aspect; the Great Dao Power from the breakthrough advanced his mana, soul, body, and numerous divine abilities.
Life Witch	1000	Awakened the Yin Moon Physique and Eye of Reincarnation, producing a silver-moon celestial phenomenon.
Mahayana	1039 1049	Advanced using the Three Flowers Five Qi Pill; absorbed the Eight-Winged Fire Drake’s Five Elements Great Dao abilities and later fought as a Mahayana cultivator.
Soul cultivation — Soul Domain and Life and Death Mirror	1056	Passed the Yin Moon Soul Tribulation, manifested a Soul Domain, and condensed the Life and Death Mirror Great Dao divine ability.
Supreme Immortal Body — perfected	1067	Manifested a hundred-zhang immortal body capable of rapidly recovering from Emperor Yan’s saber strike.

Background

Yuan Ming was born into the Yuan family of Great Jin as the son of General Yuan Zuochong. During childhood, he did not cultivate; instead, he studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and martial arts. A recognized child prodigy, he wrote picture books that circulated through Great Jin and neighboring countries, which led to his appointment as Liu Tianming’s companion reader. 212

While serving on an envoy mission to the Southern Border, Yuan Ming was ambushed and left stranded. He later concluded that Lin Junsheng and Prince Xian had only been manipulated pawns, while Great Jin’s Imperial Advisor, Daoist Master Yuhu, was the true mastermind behind the attempt on his life. 243 250

His fortunes changed when an azure mark on his arm produced an azure incense burner containing three black incense sticks. Lighting one transferred his consciousness into the body of the young emperor, where he first learned the Nine Yuan Art from Yuhu. Once returned to his own body, Yuan Ming used the technique to begin formal cultivation. 12 13 14

Yuan Ming eventually uncovered that he was General Yuan’s long-missing son and recovered memories of his childhood in the imperial family. He delayed returning home until he had enough strength to protect himself, maintaining contact with his father and Liu Tianming through possession and spiritual tools. 123 183 227

Appearance

Yuan Ming frequently conceals or changes his appearance through masks, disguises, possession, and transformation techniques. His most recognizable altered forms are a powerful White Ape, a scale-covered half-demon form, and the silver-moon-marked form awakened after entering the Life Witch realm. 18 676 1000

• White Ape form — Created with the Fur Transformation Technique; its size and physical power increased alongside his Qi Refining cultivation. 18 42
• Half-Demon Physique — Temporarily developed black scales and a black bone spur on his brow while infusing demonic qi into his body. 676
• Yin Moon mark — A faint silver moon appeared on his brow after his Life Witch breakthrough, allowing him to move with extreme stealth. 1000
• Disguises — Uses the Thousand Mechanism Mask and Bloodbone Mask to alter his face and conceal his aura. 266 666

Personality

Yuan Ming is highly adaptable. When first trapped in the young emperor’s body, he quickly chose to maintain the role until he could return rather than panic or reveal himself. His exceptional memory lets him retain cultivation incantations after a single hearing, though he is candid about his initially ordinary aptitude. 12 13 83

He is cautious, practical, and strongly independent. Yuan Ming often declines recruitment by sects or powerful factions, prefers to investigate threats before acting, and uses disguises, decoys, scouting Soul Crows, and possession to avoid direct danger. 254 359 777

His methods can be ruthless: he uses Soul Search, alters memories, plants Soul Descent Runes, and turns defeated enemies into followers or controlled servants when he considers them more useful alive. At the same time, he shows lasting concern for his family, protects his followers, and intervened personally to save plague-stricken Hekou Town. 238 507 615

Abilities & Skills

Heaven-Stealing Cauldron and Black Incense

The azure incense burner later functions as the Heaven-Stealing Cauldron, Yuan Ming’s defining treasure. Through Black Incense, it enables his soul to possess other people, learn from their experiences, and influence their behavior. 12 125 229

• Possession targets appear to require a prior connection or favorable relationship with Yuan Ming. 125
• Different sources of incense ash produce different possession effects and levels of clarity. 227 271
• Repeated subtle influence makes a possessed target increasingly receptive to his suggestions. 271
• He used possession to acquire the Nine Yuan Art, master incense recipes, study formations, and comprehend divine abilities through several practitioners’ perspectives. 13 229 856
• The cauldron collects Wish Power through the prayers of Mingyue Cult believers, strengthening Yuan Ming’s soul cultivation and restoring damaged divine souls. 320 718

Nine Yuan Art

The Nine Yuan Art is Yuan Ming’s principal mana cultivation method. Unlike the Blood Qi Method, it draws spiritual energy through all acupoints at once and converts it into mana efficiently. 14

• Enabled his rapid early growth from mana condensation to Foundation Establishment. 14 237
• Its Foundation Establishment and Core Formation sections include associated spells and divine abilities. 244
• Yuan Ming possesses two Nine Yuan Art vitalities, one associated with Nascent Soul and another with Void Return, obtained from Changchun Temple ancestor San Jue. 607

Nether Moon Art and Soul Cultivation

Yuan Ming cultivates the Nether Moon Art as his primary soul cultivation method. Its progress is fueled by Wish Power and eventually allows him to cultivate a divine soul independently of his mana and body. 213 320

• Soul Crows — Used for aerial scouting, eavesdropping, and returning information to his sea of consciousness. 125 142
• Split Soul — A refined split soul can inhabit and control other beings, including Zuo Qinghui’s corpse and the demonic beast Lei Yu. 309 320
• Soul Domain — Manifested after the Yin Moon Soul Tribulation; traps targets under Yuan Ming’s soul-based control. 1056
• Life and Death Mirror — A Great Dao divine ability condensed alongside the Soul Domain. 1056
• Eye of Reincarnation — Allows him to examine the past of people and objects through visions drawn from their histories. 1000

Body Cultivation

Yuan Ming’s body cultivation began with the Fur Transformation Technique and later developed through the Demon Elephant Prison Suppressing Technique, demonic qi infusion, and the Myriad Manifestations Body. 14 437 698

• Fur Transformation Technique — Transforms Yuan Ming into a White Ape with amplified strength and resilience. 14 18
• Demon Elephant Prison Suppressing Technique — Greatly enhances his body and can be cultivated through multiple layers; he mastered its first layer after two months in Asura Palace. 437
• Half-Demon Physique — Achieved by surviving the Demon Refining Array and the infusion of demonic qi. Failure would have reduced him to a mindless demon. 670 676
• Myriad Manifestations Body — Allows him to withstand powerful attacks and overwhelm groups of enemies through exceptional physical strength. 698 723
• Supreme Immortal Body — A perfected immortal-body divine ability that grants immense size, durability, and regeneration. 1067

Dao Seals and Great Dao Divine Abilities

Yuan Ming can absorb, refine, and integrate external powers through the Primordial Dao Seal and Chaos Dao Fruit. 952 1039 1056

• Primordial Dao Seal — Breaks down and refines incoming attacks, Dao Seals, and Great Dao powers. 952 1039
• Chaos Domain and Chaos Divine Thunder — High-level combat techniques used against Mahayana opponents. 1049
• Five Elements Dao Fruits — His chosen Great Dao divine ability, nourished by Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water spiritual energy and Intent. 987 1039
• Emotion Control Dao Seal — Controls the Seven Emotions and can condense Wish Power according to emotional type. 991
• Dream of All Beings — An illusion divine ability used to pressure and repel powerful soul cultivators. 443

Incense Making, Alchemy, and Formations

Yuan Ming is an exceptionally gifted craftsman despite his modest spiritual-root aptitude. He mastered Violet Profound Incense after studying True Man Xuanhua through possession, then demonstrated the recipe’s production before Xuanhua himself. 229 230

• Created Plague-Dispelling Incense and saved the survivors of Hekou Town’s plague; the townspeople built the Plague-Dispelling Temple in gratitude. 238
• Operated the Xuanhua Incense Shop and introduced rebates, promotional displays, and a customer points system. 263
• Became a Level Seven Array Master under the Realm Observer and mastered the Supreme Assimilation Array. 1016
• Reached the level of a Level Seven Alchemist, enabling Shopkeeper San to perfect the Three Flowers Five Qi Pill for his Mahayana advancement. 1039
• Retains considerable talent in painting and storytelling, completing and illustrating The Tale of Young Master Sheng’s Southern Journey in three days. 222

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heaven-Stealing Cauldron — Azure incense burner that enables possession, collects Wish Power, and contains an internal cultivation space. 12 718
• Soul Annihilation Sword — Yuan Ming’s soul-targeting weapon, later reforged from the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sword. 443 1066
• Asura Palace — Vast spatial cave dwelling and mobile stronghold used for cultivation, storage, imprisonment, and combat. 411 1056
• Asura Blood Devouring Diagram — Used to absorb enemies and demonic power; also supports his body cultivation. 615 707
• Purple Star Nine Dragon Spear — Acquired from Zuo Qinghui’s treasures; can absorb stellar energy from Starry Sky Lion Beasts. 309 507
• Thousand Mechanism Mask — A limited-use mask capable of perfectly replicating another person’s appearance. 266
• Bloodbone Mask — Uses vital blood and mana aura to create a disguise difficult for others to see through. 666
• Undying Tree — Exists within his dantian; its roots scout spiritual veins, traverse space, and connect Yuan Ming to subjugated targets. 707 915

Relationships

• Yuan Zuochong — Father and General of Great Jin. Yuan Ming’s recovered memories restored their bond; he later gave Yuan Zuochong a Foundation Establishment Pill and continued checking on him through possession. 183 243 254
• Yuan Ming’s mother — Yuan Ming’s unnamed mother. His returns home are emotionally important to both of them, and she gave him a jade ring from Sheng Ye Sect for protection. 227 253 447
• Liu Tianming / Little Emperor — Former companion reader, emperor, possession target, and close friend. Yuan Ming’s first Black Incense possession inadvertently set Tianming on the path of cultivation. 183 243 242
• Xiying — Trusted ally and fellow soul cultivator. She supplied Nether Moon Art techniques, supported his breakthroughs, offered herself as a possession host for formation comprehension, and repeatedly fights beside him. 213 718 1039
• Wulu — Old companion from the Southern Border. They reunited repeatedly despite Wulu’s transformation into a half-human, half-demon Late Nascent Soul cultivator. 238 707
• True Man Xuanhua — Incense-making mentor and eventual friend. Xuanhua gifted Yuan Ming his secret incense manual after Yuan Ming established his foundation. 155 230 237
• Flower Branch — Spirit beast and disciple who follows Yuan Ming’s orders, assists in combat, and guards his cultivation sites. 254 698 1024
• Thunder Rain — Beast companion and disciple. Thunder Rain advanced to Rank 5 High-tier during Yuan Ming’s Dharma Aspect breakthrough. 890 1024
• Kong — Advisor connected to the Heaven-Stealing Cauldron. Kong provides intelligence, identifies hidden treasures, and later has his body reshaped with Yuan Ming’s Chaos Power. 865 1016 1056
• Zuo Qinghui — Changchun Temple adversary whose corpse Yuan Ming revived and controlled through a Soul Crow; the controlled Zuo Qinghui later reached Foundation Establishment. 309 320

Story Role / Major Arcs

Southern Border and the Azure Incense Burner

After being stranded in the Southern Border, Yuan Ming discovers the azure incense burner and obtains the Nine Yuan Art by possessing the young emperor. He builds his foundation through harsh cultivation, White Ape transformations, and the study of mana, soul, and beast-taming techniques. 12 14 42 100

Recovering His Identity

Yuan Ming learns that the missing young master mourned by General Yuan’s wife is himself. He later recovers memories of his Great Jin childhood, reconnects with Liu Tianming and General Yuan through possession, and confirms the political conspiracy behind his disappearance. 123 183 227 243

Return to Great Jin and Revenge

After reaching Foundation Establishment, Yuan Ming returns to Great Jin and publicly accuses Daoist Master Yuhu at the abdication ceremony. He duels and kills Yuhu, then leaves the capital to avoid retaliation from Changchun Temple. 250 251 253

Mingyue Cult and Asura Palace

Yuan Ming develops the Mingyue Cult to gather Wish Power, using it to accelerate the Nether Moon Art and nurture split souls. His control of Asura Palace, cultivation of the Demon Elephant Prison Suppressing Technique, and acquisition of followers expand both his power and territory. 320 411 615

War Against the Wuyue Cult

Returning to Great Jin after two decades, Yuan Ming finds Changchun Temple compromised by the Wuyue Cult and searches for Liu Tianming. His identity as the Mingyue God becomes public when he joins the Yunhuang Alliance, where he assists in opposing the cult’s forces. 447 707 711

Eastern Sea Advancement

Yuan Ming establishes himself in the Eastern Sea, takes possession of Spirit Ape Island, studies alchemy and high-level formations, and uses long seclusion to reach the Void Return late-stage peak. He later condenses his Dharma Aspect and becomes one of the region’s foremost cultivators. 766 821 856 890

Mahayana and Dao Immortal Power

After entering the Mahayana stage, Yuan Ming absorbs the Eight-Winged Fire Drake’s Five Elements Great Dao powers, develops the Five Elements Dao Fruits, survives the Yin Moon Soul Tribulation, and reaches a level where he can suppress multiple Mahayana enemies and seize the Three Realms Immortal Ship. 1039 1056

Trivia

• Yuan Ming’s childhood picture books were popular enough to spread beyond Great Jin. 212
• His extraordinary memory allowed him to memorize the Nine Yuan Art after hearing it once. 13
• He is fluent in the refined Central Plains dialect, which led Changxian Tower to mistake him for a distinguished Great Jin guest. 150
• Yuan Ming’s early commercial success came from running the Xuanhua Incense Shop, where his sales methods made Azure Profound Incense and Beauty-enhancing Incense especially popular. 263