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
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	Later identified as Li Cheng's combat-oriented Talent Sequence. The provided material does not directly describe the final result of his promotion.

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

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

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

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
• Drawing on Angel-level power places a burden on him and must be used sparingly. 1311

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
• Uses the weapon as the central component of his planned Thunder Master promotion. 1327
• 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

Equipment

• Spear of Andarville — Angel-level lightning weapon under Li Cheng's control. He can combine its components into a functioning spear; the weapon is known to have three fragments. 423 1302
• 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; intended to hold the Thunder Master Talent Sequence and later used for a temporary power boost. 1327 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. 1104 1277
• 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

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

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

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

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