Li Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Cheng (栗成)
Alias(es)	Old Li
Gender	Male 646
Affiliation	Research Institute 423
Occupation/Role	Dean of the Research Institute 423
Status	Angel-level Thunder Master; his promotion left him comatose for a time, while his later recovery status remains unclear. 1539 1558 1832
First Appearance	Chapter 423 423

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Rank B — Meteorologist	1277 1337	Regarded as the Main World's Transcendent closest to Angelhood. His weather-based Talent Sequence can produce rain, snow, hail, floods, droughts, and lightning.
Thunder Master Secret Medicine obtained	1105	He receives the dangerous Secret Medicine formula and agrees to assist He Ao with three requests outside the protection of the real world.
Angel promotion preparation	1327	Plans to consume the Thunder Master Talent Sequence from the Spear of Andarville, using a mithril vial as a container and considering whether to conduct the ritual in the Main World or the Ruins.
Angel promotion attempt	1349	Chooses to temporarily amplify his power with the mithril vial to confront an incoming Angel-level threat.
Talent Sequence 209: Thunder Master	1539 1558	Li Cheng's combat-oriented Talent Sequence. Later events establish that he reached an Angel-level state, though he remained unconscious due to an issue involving his soul.
Thunder Master disassembled and ritual begun	1347	Li Cheng and He Ao successfully separate the Thunder Master Talent Sequence from the Spear of Andarville. Li Cheng stores the resulting thunder liquid in a mithril vial and begins a planet-spanning thunderstorm ritual on the Ruins Planet.
Post-promotion recovery	1371 1372	The promotion severely disrupts Li Cheng's consciousness and injures him, but the Undying Lotus begins healing his body.
Angel-level coma	1539 1558	Li Cheng's body becomes almost entirely composed of lightning. Though physically recovered enough to awaken, his Angel-level soul remains trapped in an unresolved coma.

Background

Li Cheng was originally a student from a prestigious university with little social experience and no ability to fight. During his first journey into the Ruins, he was an ordinary person who initially approached the dangerous world with both fear and excitement. He survived encounters with Transcendent creatures, activated a mechanical arm, obtained a fragment of the Spear of Andarville, and escaped. 1288 1300

After gaining Transcendent power, Li Cheng became the reliable core of an early self-protection group. His intelligence, skill at using dangerous Transcendent Items, and dependable character drew others to him. That group eventually developed into the Research Institute, which Li Cheng built and led over much of his life. 1278 1328

Over roughly eighteen years, Li Cheng advanced from an ordinary Ruins survivor to the Rank B Transcendent closest to Angelhood in the Main World. His progress was aided by his extraordinary compatibility with the Spear of Andarville and his repeated direct consumption of Transcendent materials despite lacking early knowledge of formal promotion rituals. 1277 1327

Appearance

Li Cheng is a refined, middle-aged man who wears glasses and commonly presents himself with a gentle smile. 423 646

• Carries the Spear of Andarville in a slender wooden box. 857
• Emits flashing electric light when mobilizing his power. 753
• Maintains a composed and courteous appearance even during high-risk negotiations. 607 646
• While unconscious after his promotion, his body appears almost entirely composed of lightning. 1558

Personality

Li Cheng is intelligent, cautious, and highly receptive to knowledge. He evaluates threats pragmatically, recognizing both the value and danger of Angel-level powers, occult information, and predictive items. He is willing to cooperate with uncertain allies, but only after weighing the consequences for the Research Institute and the Main World. 423 607 608

Despite his analytical nature, he possesses a strong sense of responsibility. He considers the survival of the Main World more important than his own safety, leading him to prepare for Angel promotion even when his allies warn that failure could destabilize the entire Transcendent world. 1277 1279

He also values loyalty and trust. Li Cheng accepts He Ao's help without demanding every secret, recognizes Hao Yi's contributions to the Main World, and makes succession arrangements intended to preserve the Research Institute if he dies. 902 1104 1277

Li Cheng is willing to risk himself to protect his companions. During the escape from the King Angel's laboratory, he prepares to draw the enemy's attention so that He Ao can escape, believing that if two people entered the facility, at least one should return alive. 1324

Abilities & Skills

Thunder Master Talent Sequence

Li Cheng possesses Talent Sequence 209, Thunder Master, a combat-oriented Talent Sequence associated with weather and lightning. 1539

• Can summon rain, snow, hail, floods, and droughts across an area. 1337
• Usually favors direct lightning attacks over slower environmental changes. 1337
• Can use lightning to suppress contamination and awaken affected allies. 1098
• Can gather a massive thunderstorm over an entire planet for use in his Angel-promotion ritual. 1347
• Drawing on Angel-level power places a burden on him and must be used sparingly. 1311
• His post-promotion body is largely lightning-based, though his unresolved soul condition prevents him from awakening normally. 1558

Spear of Andarville Synchronization

Li Cheng has exceptional compatibility with the Spear of Andarville, an Angel-level weapon whose electrical power strengthens his lightning abilities. 423 1337

• Can use the spear to unleash destructive electric force capable of piercing metal walls and disrupting electronics. 423
• Used the weapon as the central component of his planned Thunder Master promotion. 1327
• He and He Ao successfully disassembled the spear to extract the complete Thunder Master Talent Sequence for his ritual. 1347
• His affinity with the spear developed from the fragments he discovered during his earliest Ruins expedition. 1300 1337

Research and Occult Analysis

As the Research Institute's Dean, Li Cheng combines scientific reasoning with extensive practical experience handling Transcendent phenomena.

• Identifies the strategic value and risks of Angel-level Items and Ruins-related knowledge. 423 608
• Analyzes Ruins maps, arrays, and the placement of the Spear of Andarville's fragments alongside He Ao. 1302 1303
• Seeks information capable of changing the Research Institute's understanding of Talent Sequences and promotion. 646 754
• Negotiates calmly under pressure, including his first transaction with Hao Yi aboard the Verola. 607 608
• Helps He Ao assess the Stone Lotus research facility's concealed core areas and the dangers hidden beneath it. 1302 1303

Equipment

• Spear of Andarville — Former Angel-level lightning weapon under Li Cheng's control. He could combine its three fragments into a functioning spear, but he and He Ao later disassembled it to extract the Thunder Master Talent Sequence for Li Cheng's promotion. 423 1302 1347
• Wooden spear case — A slender wooden box used to carry the Spear of Andarville. 857
• Mithril vial — A patterned container capable of resisting Angel-level power to a degree. It was intended to hold the Thunder Master Talent Sequence, later containing the extracted thunder liquid and cracking under its immense power. 1327 1347 1349

Relationships

• He Ao — Research Institute subordinate and trusted successor candidate. Li Cheng secretly appoints He Ao as a Councilor and Vice Dean, intending for him to inherit the Institute if Li Cheng fails his promotion. He also entrusts He Ao with helping explore the research facility and aiding his promotion ritual. 1104 1277 1278 1327
• Hao Yi — Rank B external collaborator and Verola's controller. Li Cheng trades materials and institutional resources for Hao Yi's knowledge, later allowing him to observe the Angel promotion ritual. 607 608 1279
• Liu Zhengyun — Longtime ally and Research Institute Councilor. Liu Zhengyun is one of the Institute's earliest members and strongly opposes Li Cheng risking an unprepared Angel promotion. 1277 1328
• Wu Ganglie — Early companion and Vice Dean of the Research Institute. Wu Ganglie helped organize the Institute's original protection group and openly argues against Li Cheng's promotion attempt. 1277 1328
• Goya — Expedition teammate during the exploration of the Echoes of the Past Ruins. 857 878
• Jie An — Expedition teammate whose defensive abilities complement Li Cheng's offensive lightning power. 857
• Andawier (alternate-world counterpart) — In a destroyed alternate world, Andawier seizes an alternate Li Cheng's body after the latter consumes the Spear of Andawier. That Li Cheng's remaining soul becomes fused with the Thunder Master Talent Sequence and can restrict Andawier when the Shelter and humanity are threatened. 1937 1939

Story Role / Major Arcs

Assessment of Hao Yi and the Verola

After receiving reports on the Verola incident and the threat posed by the Ruins, Li Cheng assesses Hao Yi as a potentially cooperative but extremely dangerous Rank B Transcendent. He concludes that Hao Yi's willingness to reveal Angel-related knowledge may be an indirect attempt to establish cooperation with the Research Institute. 423

Ruodan Investigation

Li Cheng investigates the devastated Moonlight headquarters and palace museum with He Ao. He recognizes that an unknown figure prevented a catastrophe in Ruodan and supports having the Research Institute lead the city's neutralization rather than allowing Moonlight or the World Tree to dominate it. 529

Alliance with Hao Yi

Li Cheng first boards the Verola to negotiate for access to a Ruins passage anchor point. He accepts Hao Yi's exchange terms—Research Institute data and Transcendent animals or plants—in return for the anchor point and later agrees to help forge the Shadowless Sword in exchange for Transcendent knowledge. 607 608

The knowledge Hao Yi provides, particularly concerning Talent Sequence patterns and promotion, deeply affects Li Cheng. He regards it as knowledge capable of changing an era. 646 754

Echoes of the Past Ruins

Li Cheng joins He Ao, Hao Yi, Goya, and Jie An in entering the Echoes of the Past Ruins. He contributes the Spear of Andarville's lightning power to the group's balanced combat formation and works with He Ao to navigate the Civilization Relic Image and confront its hostile phenomena. 857 878 890

During the confrontation with the King Slayer Angel's evil spirit, Li Cheng coordinates closely with He Ao, using the spear and lightning-enhanced mobility to support close-range attacks against the enemy's energy convergence point. 892 897

Radiance City Crisis

Li Cheng joins He Ao and Hao Yi during the Radiance City crisis. He suppresses contamination with lightning, helps awaken affected allies, and later delivers a desperate strike that buys He Ao time to summon the Wheel of Stars. 1098 1104

Afterward, he refuses to press He Ao for explanations regarding his secrets, stating only that He Ao remains a good member of the Research Institute and faulting the older generation for failing to offer enough assistance. 1104

Succession and Angel Promotion

Believing that the Main World cannot indefinitely rely on outside assistance, Li Cheng decides to attempt Angel promotion. He prepares for the possibility of death by naming He Ao as his successor and granting him authority over the Research Institute's future. 1277 1278

He later discusses his fears and hopes with He Ao, admitting that seeing gods repeatedly thwarted has made Angelhood seem attainable rather than unreachable. 1279

After activating the Analysis Egg with He Ao, Li Cheng chooses to extract the Thunder Master Talent Sequence from the Spear of Andarville. On the Ruins Planet, he begins his ritual by creating a thunderstorm that covers the planet. 1327 1347

The promotion leaves Li Cheng severely injured and mentally disturbed. Though his body subsequently heals, he remains in an Angel-level coma because of an unresolved problem involving his soul. 1371 1558

Research Facility Exploration

Li Cheng accompanies He Ao into the Ruins research facilities connected to the Spear of Andarville. They investigate the Stone Lotus, hidden spaces, sealing arrays, the Analysis Egg, and the Angel-level Item Reassembly Experiment Project Group. 1298 1303 1320

During these expeditions, Li Cheng relies on He Ao's knowledge of arrays and mysticism while providing lightning support and firsthand knowledge from his earlier explorations. 1311 1320 1324

Li Cheng also shares the incomplete map he compiled from his first expedition, allowing the pair to identify the research facility's three core areas and infer the existence of concealed passages. 1302 1303

Later Whereabouts

At a later point, Li Cheng successfully deceives the Starlight Figure and returns to Kostar Peak. The extent of his recovery and his subsequent actions remain unknown. 1832

Alternate-World Li Cheng

In a destroyed alternate world, an alternate Li Cheng forcibly consumes the Spear of Andawier during his advancement. Andawier exploits the process to seize his body, but Li Cheng discovers flaws in Andawier's soul and resists him in a prolonged stalemate. 1939

Andawier ultimately forces the alternate Li Cheng to yield by threatening the surviving humans and Liu Zhengyun. Li Cheng's remnant soul does not disappear; it fuses more deeply with the Thunder Master Talent Sequence and limits Andawier's use of that power unless he acts to protect the Shelter and humanity. 1939

Notable Quotes

“We can't keep living by relying on the help of others.” 1277

“If one day, I'm really gone, the Research Institute and this world, I'll leave them to you.” 1105

“If it weren't for your cooperation, killing this guy so easily would require activating the Spear of Andarville. It's not that I've become stronger too quickly, it's just that I found a good teammate.” 1298