She Li

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	She Li (舍离)
Alias(es)	Ice Block 197
Species/Race	Human; a native of the City of Sin 133
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chen Cheng and the remnants of the Thornflower Empire 441
Occupation/Role	Swordsman, assassin, and Chen Cheng's sworn protector 133 441
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 133: “Background” 133

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Enlightened One; pre-breakthrough sword dao	568, 612	Samlet judged him close to entering the second realm of enlightenment; Elf Ireland later identifies him as an Enlightened One.
Next stage of sword dao	672	Broke through after Samlet and the Black Dragon King repeatedly pushed him to the brink of death. His later combat realm is described as comparable to Epic Rank grandmasters. 672 673

Background / History

She Li was born in the City of Sin to parents who had fled there after killing a tyrannical noble and becoming wanted fugitives. Because the city's energy levels were too low for conventional cultivation, he developed his body and learned his father's swordsmanship instead. His natural talent allowed him to produce sword strikes that were invisible and difficult to perceive even without battle qi. 133

His parents were killed in an ambush during a hunting trip. When those responsible returned with their bodies and attempted to kill She Li, the eleven- or twelve-year-old She Li used a butcher's cleaver to kill them all—including several Platinum Rank powerhouses—within fifteen minutes. The massacre established the reputation that allowed him to survive alone in the City of Sin. 133

Samlet investigated She Li, judged him suitable to guard Chen Cheng, and tasked him with protecting “His Majesty.” Samlet subsequently forged him a new blade, armor, and a spatial ring, making him capable of contending with Epic Rank opponents despite the gap between his own realm and theirs. 133 135

While traveling through the ruins around the Holy City, She Li encountered Mata. After killing the scavengers exploiting her, he allowed her to remain near him because he sensed no killing intent from her. At Mata's urging, he subdued a Shadow Demon, gaining the ability to merge with shadows and project blade aura. 197 198 199

Appearance

Without his armor, She Li is an ordinarily appearing young man whose indifferent demeanor gives him a distinctive presence. His eyes are notably dark, and he commonly presents himself in full armor and helmet during combat. 203 435

• Often carries the Butcher Knife at his waist. 199
• Can instantly equip a full set of silver Demigod Artifact armor through his spatial ring. 135 672
• His armor conceals most of his face in battle, leaving only eyes marked by cold killing intent visible. 601
• His killing intent can make people within roughly a meter of him feel as if a blade is at their backs. 747

Personality

She Li is terse, stoic, and accustomed to treating hostile intent as an immediate threat. His upbringing in the City of Sin left him unfamiliar with ordinary social boundaries: he initially believed that anyone who thought of harming Chen Cheng should be eliminated before they acted. Chen Cheng repeatedly curbs this instinct, ordering him to observe threats rather than kill indiscriminately. 442

His loyalty is absolute but not mindless. When Samlet contacted him mentally, She Li tested the visitor's identity before accepting the message, specifically using Chen Cheng's safety as the test. Samlet praised this vigilance as essential for a guard. 569

Despite his cold exterior, She Li gradually becomes more human through his life with Chen Cheng and Mata. He runs a carving stall with Mata, expresses a desire to return to his former pastry-shop life, and makes an awkward attempt at joking with Chen Cheng. 443 451 571 591

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Saber Intent

She Li's core strength is an extraordinarily fast, precise blade style developed without battle qi. His attacks can be difficult to detect because they produce little or no energy fluctuation. 133 205

• Can execute hundreds of physical cuts in an instant, reducing stone to powder through speed and blade quality alone. 203
• Uses a close-range draw fast enough to cut through an Epic Rank late-stage Holy Light Shield before its wearer can react. 205
• After bonding with the Shadow Demon, can project blade aura to cut targets without direct contact. 199
• His upgraded Saber Intent can interfere with opponents mentally, bypass defenses to damage internal organs, and be divided into fine, controllable blade fragments. 673 674
• His ultimate move, Peerless Strike, manifests as the Hundred-Meter Great Saber—a massive projection formed from condensed saber energy and intent. 673 674
• Before obtaining ranged blade aura, his reliance on a close-range first strike was a major weakness if an opponent could evade it. 203 205

Shadow Demon

She Li subdued a Shadow Demon after Mata recognized its potential and urged him not to destroy it. The demon fused with his weapon and expanded both his mobility and attack options. 198 199

• Shadow Evasion — enters and travels through shadows to evade attacks, infiltrate positions, or reappear behind targets. 206 578
• Can merge the Shadow Demon, his hand, and the Butcher Knife into a unified weapon state. 199 438
• Uses shadows as a foundation for the Flying Thunder God Technique, allowing rapid repositioning during combat. 673
• The demon can cover his body to help activate the armor's defenses against attacks such as Space Storm. 206

Perception and Combat Instinct

As an Enlightened One, She Li possesses unusually sharp perception of danger, killing intent, and irregularities in his surroundings. 568 610

• Detected a disguised Snow Maiden that others mistook for an ordinary snow rabbit. 741
• Recognized that he could no longer sense Samlet within a hundred miles of the Moonlight Forest, prompting his suspicion of the area. 610
• Can identify hostile intent and react before enemies make an overt move. 197 442
• His perception does not substitute for physical endurance; prolonged combat in extreme heat injured him despite his other advantages. 578

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Butcher Knife — His signature weapon. Samlet forged it by compressing and refining a city; it is an evil blade forged from the lives and essence of that city's inhabitants. It is later identified as a Demigod Artifact and an embryo of a Divine Artifact. 134 206 675
  • Contains a spatial-breaking technique that gives She Li the sensation that he can strike anything within his sightline. 135
  • Became black at the hilt after fusing with the Shadow Demon. 199
• Demigod Artifact armor — A full armor set forged by Samlet from seven desert cities and stored within a spatial ring. It can be equipped by thought and withstands attacks such as Void Chains, Space Storm, and an Epic Rank lightning attack. 135 204 206 438
• Spatial ring — Stores and instantly deploys his armor. 135
• Small knife token — A token Chen Cheng can crush to summon She Li in an emergency. 728

Relationships

• Chen Cheng / Brown — His lord and the “His Majesty” whom She Li is sworn to protect. Chen Cheng asks him to use the name “Brown” rather than royal titles, while later regarding She Li as family rather than merely a subordinate. 441 615
• Samlet — Mentor, benefactor, and fellow imperial loyalist. Samlet selected She Li as Chen Cheng's guard, forged his equipment, and drove his sword dao breakthrough through brutal training. 133 135 672
• Mata — A scavenger whom She Li protects after discovering she has no killing intent. She calls him “Ice Block,” works a carving stall with him, and relies on the security he provides. 197 442 443 451
• Jamir — A former Church Bishop whom She Li rescues from Church captors while seeking information on Chen Cheng's whereabouts and the outside world. 205 206 207
• Emil — An elf whom She Li initially distrusts along with the wider Elf race due to concern for Samlet's safety. He apologizes for his impudence while maintaining his caution. 610
• Snow Maiden — Captured by She Li in the Great Snow Mountain after he saw through her disguise; he concealed the capture from the Mei brothers to preserve the option of taking her Heart Blood for Chen Cheng's medicine. 741 742

Story Role / Major Arcs

City of Sin

After Samlet recruits him, She Li receives weapons and armor intended to make him Chen Cheng's protector. He later operates in the Holy City ruins with Mata, subdues the Shadow Demon, kills a Church Elder and five Law Venerables, and rescues Jamir. 133 135 199 205 206

Reunion with Chen Cheng

She Li identifies Chen Cheng as the sovereign he was ordered to protect and reveals that Samlet is gathering forces in the City of Sin for a future counter-offensive. Chen Cheng permits him to remain nearby but prohibits violence against people who have not acted on their hostile thoughts. 441 442

Protector and Imperial Agent

She Li repeatedly protects Chen Cheng from assassins, political enemies, magical beasts, and pursuing adventurers. After Chen Cheng is nearly killed in an attack on his shop, She Li annihilates the assailants, carries him from the Royal Capital, and forces a doctor to treat him. 490 492 594

Moonlight Forest Training

She Li accompanies Chen Cheng to the Moonlight Forest, grows suspicious when he cannot sense Samlet, and is later subjected to Samlet's life-threatening training. The training drives him into the next stage of his sword dao, after which he unveils Saber Intent techniques and the Hundred-Meter Great Saber. 610 672 673

Beast Tide and Northern Journey

During the beast tide, She Li assists in battles against Beast Kings and Beast Emperors, using Saber Intent to wound Zhu Yan and break through hostile Domains. He later travels north with Chen Cheng, captures the Snow Maiden, and continues to serve as Chen Cheng's guard while they move toward the Great Desert. 600 601 715 719 738 741

Notable Quotes

“It’s simple, just swing your sword a lot.” 203

“I only listen to my young master’s words.” 740

“If you don’t want to die, turn into a snowball.” 741

Trivia

• She Li's earliest known weapon was a butcher's cleaver, which he used to avenge his parents as a child. 133
• Mata's nickname for him, “Ice Block,” originated from his cold demeanor and minimal speech. 197
• He is skilled at wood carving and can quickly carve lifelike figures, including a Dragon Beast. 443
• Although feared as an assassin, he once stated that he wanted to return to an ordinary pastry-shop life. 591