Feng Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Feng Xiao (冯啸)
Alias(es)	Master Feng; Martial Master Feng
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shangyang Family
Occupation/Role	Outer Courtyard Instructor Martial Master; trainer of Laborers and Martial Students
Cultivation	Second Meridian Realm
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Feng Xiao serves as a Martial Master responsible for identifying and training potential talent among the Shangyang Family's Laborers. He announces the family’s two-month martial-arts trial, stressing that the opportunity to learn martial arts must be repaid with loyalty and diligent service. 2

He teaches the Laborers the Stone Platform Stance Practice, explaining that cultivation begins by finding and refining Blood Essence before opening blocked meridians. He openly warns them that only a small minority are likely to pass the First Meridian, and initially regards the program as a method of finding rare talent rather than personally nurturing every servant. 3

During the trial, Feng Xiao recognizes Wang Huan’s rapid progress and provides him guidance at the First Meridian bottleneck. He later confirms the breakthroughs of Wang Huan, Sun Rong, Li Shan, Xu Yuan, and Tian Yang, with each successful Martial Artist improving his own teaching performance evaluation. 10 13 14 17

Feng Xiao becomes Xu Yuan’s earliest martial mentor. Although he initially considers Xu Yuan’s aptitude merely average, he is impressed by Xu Yuan’s composure under criticism, diligence, humility, and respectful conduct. He arranges for Xu Yuan and several former Laborers to share a dormitory at the training institute, then gives Xu Yuan detailed warnings about the upcoming assessment, cultivation medicines, and the dangers of random assignment. 3 17 18

After Xu Yuan reaches the Second Meridian, Feng Xiao continues to provide practical advice: he explains the Shangyang Family’s task areas, the risks faced by “Expansion Martial Artists,” and the incomplete nature of the Stone Platform Stance Practice. He also gives Xu Yuan three taels of silver as a breakthrough gift. 39 40

When Xu Yuan reaches the Third Meridian and surpasses Feng Xiao in cultivation, Feng Xiao is briefly unsure how to address his former student under the Martial Path’s strength-based seniority. Xu Yuan reassures him that their mentor-student relationship will not change, allowing Feng Xiao to remain at ease. 49

Appearance

Feng Xiao is a stern, imposing Martial Master whose presence intimidates inexperienced servants.

• Wears a blue shirt marked with two horizontal shoulder stripes, denoting his rank. 2
• Has a stern, unsmiling expression. 2
• Speaks in a low, resonant voice that can become thunderous when enforcing discipline. 2
• Keeps a simple, tidy residence with few possessions. 39

Personality

Feng Xiao is strict, blunt, and impatient with hesitation. During his first lesson, he harshly corrects Xu Yuan’s posture and openly mocks poor form, believing Laborers should not expect extensive individual instruction from a Martial Master. 3

Despite his severity, he is practical and conscientious as a teacher. He explains cultivation bottlenecks, warns students against unrealistic expectations, and gives promising students information that could keep them from being sent to dangerous assignments. 10 18

He values sincerity over empty flattery. Feng Xiao contrasts Xu Yuan’s natural respect and humility with Wang Huan’s concealed arrogance, ultimately judging Xu Yuan to possess the more reliable disposition. 17

Abilities & Skills

Second Meridian Cultivation

Feng Xiao is a Second Meridian Martial Master with substantial Blood Essence, though he has remained at the Second Meridian bottleneck for years. 3 10

• Demonstrates his strength by leaving a palm print in a wooden plank with minimal effort. 2
• Understands the process of finding Blood Essence, refining it, and breaking meridian bottlenecks. 3 10
• Has accumulated deep Blood Essence, but states that additional accumulation alone cannot resolve his bottleneck. 10 39

Stone Platform Stance Practice

Feng Xiao is an experienced instructor of the Shangyang Family’s Stone Platform Stance Practice. 3

• Demonstrates the stance’s movements and breathing methods in detail. 3
• Corrects errors in posture, tension, footwork, and hand positioning. 3
• Explains that the technique tempers Blood Essence but can deplete a practitioner’s potential without sufficient Meridian Nourishing Soup. 18
• Reveals that the version taught to lower-ranking Martial Artists is incomplete; the complete practice is granted after reaching the Fourth Meridian. 40

Martial Path and Shangyang Family Knowledge

Feng Xiao possesses practical knowledge of cultivation resources, family assignments, and the wider conditions surrounding the Shangyang Family.

• Recommends Meridian Nourishing Soup for finding Blood Essence and protecting the tendons and sinews during training. 3
• Advises using Blood Activating Pills to strengthen one’s Blood Essence foundation and improve the chance of a breakthrough. 18
• Explains the function of the Pill Hall, Enforcement Hall, Personnel Hall, Supervision Hall, and Skill Hall. 19
• Informs Xu Yuan of the relative danger and rewards of the family’s Level 1–4 task areas. 39 40
• Warns that Martial Artists who fail to progress within the family’s required timeframes may be sent to high-risk areas. 40

Relationships

• Xu Yuan — Mentor and former instructor. Feng Xiao initially judges Xu Yuan’s talent as average but comes to admire his perseverance, humility, and potential; he provides guidance, connections, and financial support. 3 17 18 39 40 49
• Wang Huan — Former student. Feng Xiao recognizes Wang Huan’s early talent and guides him through his First Meridian bottleneck, but privately considers his arrogance inferior to Xu Yuan’s sincere disposition. 10 17
• Tian Yang — Former student. Feng Xiao confirms Tian Yang’s breakthrough alongside Xu Yuan’s and brings both into the training camp. 17 18
• Li Shan and Sun Rong — Former Laborers under Feng Xiao’s instruction; he oversees their breakthroughs and later places them with Xu Yuan’s group in the training institute. 13 14 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

Laborer Martial-Arts Trial

Feng Xiao introduces the Shangyang Family’s martial-arts selection program and teaches the first generation of Laborers the Stone Platform Stance Practice. His lessons establish the setting’s cultivation system, the difficulty of meridian opening, and the social stakes of becoming a Martial Artist. 2 3

Xu Yuan’s Training-Camp Transition

After Xu Yuan reaches the First Meridian, Feng Xiao helps move him into the training institute, arranges his dormitory placement, and provides vital advice regarding the assessment and future assignments. 17 18

Guidance After Xu Yuan’s Promotion

Following Xu Yuan’s promotion to Second Pattern Household Guard, Feng Xiao becomes a trusted adviser rather than merely an instructor. He explains cultivation resources, Spirit Beasts, task areas, and the Shangyang Family’s treatment of lower-ranking Martial Artists as expendable assets. 39 40

Mentor After Being Surpassed

Xu Yuan’s Third Meridian breakthrough reverses their relative standing in cultivation. Feng Xiao remains emotionally attached to his role as Xu Yuan’s mentor, while Xu Yuan deliberately preserves their original relationship. 49