Ling Yunhong

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ling Yunhong (凌云鸿)
Alias(es)	Clan Head Ling Yunhong; Old Clan Head
Species/Race	Human cultivator
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ling Clan
Occupation/Role	Ling Clan Head; alchemist; Spirit Plant Farmer; Weapon Refiner
Status	Alive 1882
First Appearance	Chapter 26

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Training Completion	26	Reached Qi Training Completion at age forty-two. 26
Foundation Establishment	26	Broke through independently at age forty-five, becoming the first Foundation Establishment cultivator in Ling Clan history. 26
Foundation Establishment Third Layer	26	Killed the middle-stage Foundation Establishment wolf demon occupying Lingxiao Mountain and secured its Second Rank Spirit Vein for the clan. 26
Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment	142	His strength and divine sense intimidated Liu Daozhou during the investigation of the Flame Tiger pack’s nest. 142
Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer	296	Broke through in seclusion and gained the confidence to challenge the other Huai River County clans for greater shares of the Sand Soil Mine. 296
Golden Core Realm	462	Entered Golden Core after four years of seclusion, aided by the Kui Water True Evil spirit object and a Fourth Rank tribulation-passing array. 462
Golden Core Completion	1427	Improved aptitude from Primordial Essence and an enlightenment opportunity allowed him to advance without recent bottlenecks. 1427
Nascent Soul Realm	1480	Broke through during a Spiritual Qi Tide and condensed a Superior Grade Nascent Soul. 1480
Spirit Transformation Realm	1581	Counted among the Ling Clan’s Spirit Transformation cultivators and assigned to guard the clan due to his value as a high-rank alchemist. 1581
Nascent Divinity Middle Stage	1801	Had remained at the realm’s middle stage for years while preparing to advance further. 1801

Background

Ling Yunhong possesses Dual Water-Wood Spirit Roots. He reached Qi Training Completion at forty-two and established his foundation by his own strength three years later, becoming the first Foundation Establishment cultivator since the Ling Clan’s founding. His independent breakthrough gave him combat ability beyond ordinary cultivators of the same realm; during the opening of Huai River County, he slew three Foundation Establishment demon beasts in succession. 26

At Foundation Establishment Third Layer, Ling Yunhong killed the middle-stage wolf demon occupying Lingxiao Mountain, claiming its Second Rank Spirit Vein for the Ling Clan. This achievement established Lingxiao Mountain as the clan’s new foundation and helped transform the Ling Clan from a Qi Training family into a Foundation Establishment family. 26 965

He cultivated multiple Hundred Arts alongside his main cultivation, including spirit planting, weapon refinement, and alchemy. His early effort to secure inheritances and train successors prevented the clan from becoming dependent on a single specialist. 36

Ling Yunhong’s Dao Companion had died many years before his discussions with Ling Pengyun about marriage and descendants; the loss influenced his cautious view of marriage alliances and family ties. 265

Appearance

Ling Yunhong is described as a middle-aged man with ordinary features and a faintly imposing aura. He wears the robes of the Lingxiao Ling Clan. 462

• Maintains a middle-aged appearance despite being over three hundred years old. 1084
• Often travels mounted on the Immortal Spirit Crane King during his Foundation Establishment years. 170
• Carries himself with the authority expected of the Ling Clan’s founding Foundation Establishment patriarch. 26

Personality

Ling Yunhong is strategic, pragmatic, and intensely protective of the Ling Clan. He weighs resources, manpower, alliances, and future threats before acting; when the Hundred Spirits Sect summoned Huai River County cultivators for war, he immediately considered the danger posed by Old Devil Li while the clan mountain would be left without Foundation Establishment protection. 110

He is demanding toward talented juniors but invests heavily in them. He selected Ling Pengyun for weapon refinement because of his comprehension and divine sense, financed his training materials, personally corrected his refining flaws, and later provided him with cultivation methods, spells, and protective tools. 36 40 172 192

His loyalty to the clan can make him severe. He pursued vengeance against the Luo Clan after Luo Minghui’s attempted murder, planned retaliation against the Poison Blood Demon Sect for fallen clansmen, and placed tracking restrictions on recruited rogue cultivators entrusted with newly captured spirit veins. 304 306 517

Abilities & Skills

Earthly Fiend Sword Formation

Ling Yunhong is a sword cultivator whose combat strength is centered on the Earthly Fiend Sword Formation.

• Killed multiple Foundation Establishment demon beasts during the opening of Huai River County. 26
• Used an eighteen-flying-sword Earthly Fiend Sword Formation against Ye Yongjin of the Red Leaf Ridge Ye Family. 170
• Fought alongside Luo Minghui to kill Old Devil Li, employing the formation as part of their coordinated ambush. 118
• His mid-grade lifebound Icy Cold Azure Sea Flying Sword and sword formation gave him combat power comparable to an ordinary Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer cultivator while he was at a lower cultivation level. 276

Azure Sea Sword Arts

Ling Yunhong possesses powerful sword techniques attached to his cultivation method.

• Azure Sea Sky Sword — condenses massive blue sword radiance capable of matching the full-force attack of a Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer cultivator when enhanced by a Spirit Burst Pill. 276
• His sword arts are compatible with the Earthly Fiend Sword Formation, allowing the formation’s full potential to be unleashed through a sword-cultivation method. 36
• His combat effectiveness was limited by inferior defensive and offensive magic items during his duel with Luo Minghui. 276

Pure Yang Fire Methods

After entering the Golden Core Realm, Ling Yunhong displayed powerful fire-attribute offensive methods.

• Possesses Dragon Yang True Fire, which he cited as a major source of confidence against the Poison Blood Demon Sect. 518
• Can form a Pure Yang Fire Dragon nearly one hundred zhang long from a fire-attribute dharma seal. 679
• Uses high-grade fire-attribute treasure swords and other dharma treasures alongside his fire techniques. 679

Alchemy

Alchemy gradually became Ling Yunhong’s primary contribution to the clan.

• Began as a First Rank Low Grade alchemist while also maintaining Spirit Plant Farmer and Weapon Refiner attainments. 36
• Could refine Second Rank Low Grade Spirit Gathering Pills after Foundation Establishment. 199
• Entered Third Rank Middle Grade alchemy and became a major supplier of pills for the Ling Clan’s Golden Core cultivators. 775 938
• Reached seasoned Third Rank High Grade alchemy by the time Han Qianyue was brought to the clan. 1205
• Later became a veteran Fifth Grade Middle Rank pill refiner. 1801
• Developed the Gentle Water Alchemy Method, refining it to the Fourth Rank. 1427

Spirit Planting and Weapon Refinement

Ling Yunhong is a versatile Hundred Arts practitioner and mentor.

• Reached Second Rank in the Spirit Plant Farmer path. 36
• Was a First Rank Middle Grade Weapon Refiner during Ling Pengyun’s early training and later advanced to First Rank High Grade. 36 172
• Acquired the Ling Clan’s Second Rank Alchemy Inheritance, First Rank Weapon Refining Inheritance, and First-Order Array Master Inheritance from the Hundred Spirits Sect. 36
• Personally guided Ling Pengyun through weapon refinement, enabling him to succeed in two consecutive batches of First Rank Middle Grade Golden Scale Inner Armor. 172
• Cultivated Ling Wanxing in the alchemical Dao, teaching her personally after accepting her as his disciple. 776

Equipment

• Icy Cold Azure Sea Flying Sword — Ling Yunhong’s mid-grade lifebound magic item during his Foundation Establishment period. 276
• Earthly Fiend Sword Formation set — an eighteen-flying-sword formation used in major battles. 170
• Nine Stars Needles — Second Rank Low Grade needle magic items used during his duel with Luo Minghui. 276
• Thunder Essence Treasure Sword — Third Rank Middle Grade dharma treasure used alongside his fire techniques. 679
• Thunder Breaking Spear — a treasure given by Ling Pengyun for Ling Yunhong to refine and use to strengthen himself. 1084
• Ice Soul Mysterious Water Talisman — Third Rank High Grade talisman received from Azure Water True Person and used to freeze the Black-Haired Demon Wolf and destroy the Poison Blood Cover. 507 524
• Immortal Spirit Crane King — the Ling Clan’s crane spirit beast, frequently used as Ling Yunhong’s mount. 170

Relationships

• Ling Pengyun — Descendant, disciple-like protégé, and eventual pillar of the Ling Clan. Ling Yunhong supported his weapon-refinement training from its outset; Ling Pengyun later sought to repay this support with a Nascent Soul opportunity. 36 40 1212
• Ling Ruxian — Fellow senior elder and Grand Elder. Ling Yunhong arranged his planned retirement and the orderly transfer of the Grand Elder position to Ling Pengliang. 199 203
• Ling Pengliang — Junior clansman whom Ling Yunhong supported after his failed Foundation Establishment attempt, providing a Spring Return Pill and promising another opportunity when clan finances allowed. 270
• Ling Pengxing — Clan sword cultivator and close battle ally. Together with Ling Pengyun, he participated in the destruction of the Luo Clan. 300 304
• Azure Water True Person — Master and benefactor during Ling Yunhong’s stay in the Azure Sea Secret Realm. Azure Water True Person helped him prepare for Golden Core formation; Ling Yunhong promised to return with Ling Pengyun to protect his master’s future Nascent Soul breakthrough. 462 507
• Ling Wanxing — Alchemy disciple personally nurtured by Ling Yunhong. 776
• Luo Minghui — Former ally turned enemy. Luo attempted to kill Ling Yunhong during a martial duel; Ling Yunhong later took part in destroying the Luo Clan and personally claimed vengeance after Luo’s death. 276 304
• Yang Changxing — Yang Clan Supreme Elder and military ally in the destruction of the Red Leaf Ridge Ye Family. 170 171

Story Role / Major Arcs

Building the Ling Clan’s foundation

As the clan’s first Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ling Yunhong led the Ling Clan’s expansion into Huai River County, seized Lingxiao Mountain from a powerful wolf demon, and established the clan’s Foundation Establishment-era foundation. 26

He later secured crucial Hundred Arts inheritances from the Hundred Spirits Sect and organized the training of specialists in alchemy, formations, weapon refinement, and spirit planting. His decision to train Ling Pengyun in weapon refinement was made specifically to ensure the clan would retain a successor to Ling Yun’an. 36

Demon Extermination War and Old Devil Li

When the Hundred Spirits Sect demanded cultivators for the Demon Extermination War, Ling Yunhong recognized that Old Devil Li could exploit Huai River County’s weakened defenses. He summoned the other major clans, negotiated support from Wu Yan, and helped devise an ambush using Illusion Masks. 110 112

Ling Yunhong and Luo Minghui killed Old Devil Li while Wu Yan and Yang Siling disguised themselves as the two clan heads to bait the target. 118

Conflict with the Luo Clan

Ling Yunhong challenged Luo Minghui during a martial duel, but Luo exploited superior magic items and assistance from Li Xia and Luo Qiuming to turn the duel into an attempted assassination. Ling Yunhong used a Spirit Burst Pill to temporarily elevate his power but was forced to concede after the destruction of his Golden Cloud Shield. 276

After later reaching Foundation Establishment Seventh Layer, he moved to redraw the Sand Soil Mine’s shares and eventually joined Ling Pengyun, Ling Pengxing, and the Liu Clan in the campaign that destroyed the Luo Clan. 296 300 304

Golden Core breakthrough and return

Ling Yunhong spent four years in seclusion in the Azure Sea Secret Realm, where he used the Kui Water True Evil spirit object and a Fourth Rank tribulation array to enter the Golden Core Realm. 462

After nearly ten years away from home, he left the secret realm to return to the Ling Clan, while pledging future protection for Azure Water True Person’s Nascent Soul breakthrough. 507

Revenge against the Poison Blood Demon Sect

Following his return, Ling Yunhong sought vengeance against the Poison Blood Demon Sect for Ling Clan casualties during the Small Demon Uprising. Although Ling Pengyun initially urged caution, Ling Yunhong assembled an alliance with Hundred Spirits True Person and struck while the sect besieged the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. 517 518

He opened the decisive battle by using the Ice Soul Mysterious Water Talisman to eliminate the Black-Haired Demon Wolf and destroy Poison Blood Old Ancestor’s defensive Poison Blood Cover. 524

Alchemy-focused elder

As younger Golden Core cultivators rose, Ling Yunhong gradually withdrew from frontline leadership and concentrated on alchemy. He supplied the clan’s Golden Core cultivators with large quantities of pills, often providing them to Ling Pengyun without compensation because he wished to support his descendant’s ascent. 938 965

Despite this shift, he remained a central decision-maker, mentor, and symbol of the clan’s early struggle. The Ling Clan recorded him on a separate page of its genealogy, ranking his historical standing second only to Ancestor Ling Zhu. 965

Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation era

Ling Yunhong eventually entered the Nascent Soul Realm with a Superior Grade Nascent Soul. His breakthrough was celebrated throughout the clan as the culmination of centuries of cultivation. 1480

Afterward, he continued advancing while serving as one of the clan’s high-rank alchemy pillars. By the Spirit Transformation era, Ling Pengyun considered his alchemy too valuable to risk unnecessarily in major conflicts. 1581 1801

Notable Quotes

“Ninety years from now, when Master intends to leave the secret realm and attempt a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Realm, no matter where this disciple is, Peng Yun and I will certainly come to protect Master.” 507

“After all these years, you children have grown up without even realizing it. You have become capable...” 1084

Trivia

• Ling Yunhong was the first Foundation Establishment cultivator in Ling Clan history. 26
• He reached Foundation Establishment entirely through his own efforts, a feat credited for his exceptional combat strength among cultivators of the same realm. 26
• He was over three hundred years old when he reflected on the Ling Clan’s rise from its weak early days. 1084
• The Ling Clan’s later historians regarded him as the clan’s foundational “Pillar Person,” even after he withdrew from the front line to focus on alchemy. 965