Sword Qi Great Wall

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sword Qi Great Wall (剑气长城)
Alias(es)	Great Wall of Sword Qi; Jianqi Great Wall 732 1112
Type	Ancient defensive wall and pass great formation
Affiliation	Sword cultivators of the Vast Heaven and Earth; guarded in part by Sages of the Three Teachings 275 615
Occupation/Role	Frontline barrier between the Vast Heaven and Earth and the Savage World; battlefield and cultivation ground for sword cultivators 278 615
Status	Broken into halves during the war; one half ascended, while another half later transformed into a true sword 687 1200
First Appearance	Chapter 189 189

Background / History

Following an ancient schism in the human race, sword cultivators were made convicts and exiled to the Sword Qi Great Wall, while the demon race was driven into the barbarian lands. Chen Qingdu, Guanzhao, and the Dragon Lord were the three criminal sword cultivators credited as the Great Wall's creators. 591 954

The Great Wall originated as a pass great formation jointly built by Sages of the Three Teachings. Unless it was destroyed completely in one blow, the formation could rapidly restore its integrity after damage from Great Demons and Sword Immortals. 275

The demon race persistently besieged the Great Wall because its own land had thin spiritual energy and scarce cultivation resources, while the Vast Heaven and Earth represented a far richer territory. 189

Inscription

The Great Wall bears eighteen great characters:

Daoist magic, Vast Heaven and Earth, Western Heaven.
Sword Qi Everlasting, Thunder Pool sacred ground.
Qi, Chen, Dong, Meng.

275

Appearance and Layout

The Sword Qi Great Wall is a vast wall rather than a mountain range, river, or sea. It is described as being made from sword qi accumulated by countless sword cultivators and stretches for tens of thousands of miles. 910

• Its city-wall walkway is ten li wide. 275
• A layered sea of clouds lies beneath its southern face, toward the Savage World. 614
• Its former territory consisted of the main city, Sword Immortals' private residences south of the city, and the northern Mirage marketplace. 1100
• Mount Daoxuan served as its principal route of entry; a larger gate was later opened beside the original gate. 634
• The Mirage was once a prosperous market where wealth and divine money could outweigh cultivation realm in practical importance. 1100

Environment and Cultivation

The city wall has the densest sword qi in the region. New arrivals entering through Daoxuan Mountain are expected to approach it gradually in order to adapt. 278

The Sword Qi Great Wall is regarded as an exceptionally demanding place for sword cultivation. Constant fighting and pressure create unusually solid foundations at every realm, but those foundations also make later breakthroughs more difficult. 597

• Sword cultivators in the Dragon Gate Realm treat reaching Golden Core as a true coming-of-age ceremony. 597
• Foreign Sword Immortals come to temper themselves and fight, since even Thirteenth Realm Sword Immortals are not compelled to ascend there. 278
• Ancient sword intents can grant opportunities to cultivators with clear sword hearts, including cultivators from the Savage World. 648
• Attempting to forcibly seize the Great Wall's sword-intent blessings can provoke a backlash from numerous sword intents and has killed greedy foreign Sword Immortals. 614

Defenses and Warfare

Pass Great Formation

The Great Wall's original formation repairs ordinary damage on its own, making it capable of enduring repeated assaults that would level conventional cities or mountains. 275

• During a sandstorm assault, yellow sand struck an invisible barrier and crumbled to dust before reaching the wall. 615
• The same invisible sword-qi barrier pushed southward, forcing the advancing sandstorm back by tens of li. 615
• Two Sages at the ends of the wall and a Daoist Sage at the sky curtain helped prevent the Great Wall from being contaminated and assimilated by the Savage World's destiny. 615

Sword-Qi Formations

The Great Wall's defenders employ large-scale formations built from natal flying swords and the five elements.

• At one point, thirty such formations were active across the Great Wall. 647
• The Sword Immortal Banner could command tens of millions of fine sword-qi strands from half of the Great Wall, knotting them into a vast defensive net. 717
• Sword cultivators continuously altered sword strikes and formations with strict discipline during battle. 631

Suppression of Non-Sword Cultivators

Qi cultivators other than sword cultivators are naturally suppressed by the Great Wall's Suppression Charms. Pure martial artists are also affected by its Great Dao and sword intent, but can use that pressure to temper their physiques. 712

This led to a wartime model in which defenders were primarily sword cultivators and pure martial artists, while other Qi cultivators generally served as assistants. 712

Society and Customs

The Great Wall is a comparatively lawless place with few formal rules. Visitors are warned not to draw their swords carelessly, because causing trouble where rules are scarce can be especially dangerous. 579

Combat strength and battle achievements outweigh surname, lineage, and outside backing. On the southern battlefield, a cultivator's family name becomes irrelevant beside their realm and willingness to fight. 275 578 788

Chen Qingdu, the Old Great Sword Immortal, was considered the ultimate authority on the Great Wall; his word and sword were its greatest principle. 579

Great Clan Sword Arts

The major families of the northern cities preserve distinct supreme sword techniques. 278

Family	Sword-art focus
Chen family	Strengthening bones
Dong family	Cleansing marrow
Qi family	Refining the spirit
Ning family	Sharpening the natal sword's edge
Yao family	The virtual and real aspects of sword qi
Nalan family	Harmonizing qi and sword intent

Young sword cultivators seeking a clan's inherited sword technique require both a compatible natal flying sword and sufficient battle merits. The Xingguan and Official lineages must approve access to the relevant manual in Sword Question Tower. 916

Major Events

Event	Details
Gambling battle and renewed sieges	After a contest involving thirteen peak masters from each side, the demon race broke its agreement to return all broken swords and launched further intermittent sieges. 275
Defense against the sandstorm	A massive sandstorm attacked from the south, prompting Sword Immortals from across the Great Wall to gather on the battlements. 615
Fourteen Thrones confrontation	Fourteen Great Demons assembled at the Hall of Heroes and threatened the Great Wall, while Chen Qingdu confronted their representatives. 616
Hidden Official reorganization	Chen Ping'an was appointed Steward and later Lord Yin Guan, reorganizing logistics, intelligence, formation records, and battle-merit plans during the war. 629 630
Escalating battlefield losses	The Savage World's army applied continuous pressure, forcing many old Sword Immortals and Great Sword Immortals to leave the wall and hold the line below it. 647
Final retreat and division	Sword Immortals held the line to cover a retreat. Chen Qingdu sacrificed himself so that half of the Sword Qi Great Wall could ascend, while Chen Ping'an's soul remained behind to guard it. 687
Aftermath and ascent	The Great Wall remained in ruins visited by Chen Ping'an, Ning Yao, Wei Jin, and Cao Jun. Chen Qingdu later aided the city's ascent to the Five-Colored World. 847 866
Transformation into a sword	One half of the Great Wall rose into the River of Time, was refined and reshaped into a true sword, and was ultimately received by Chen Ping'an. 1200

Relationships

• Chen Qingdu — Old Great Sword Immortal, creator and supreme authority of the Great Wall; sacrificed himself during its division and later aided its ascent. 579 687 866
• Sword cultivators — Native defenders and inhabitants; their battle achievements, swordsmanship, and survival define their standing. 275 788
• The Three Teachings Sages — Original builders and guardians of the pass formation; Sages guarded the wall's ends and sky curtain against the Savage World's influence. 275 615
• Savage World — The opposing realm whose demon race repeatedly besieged the Great Wall in pursuit of richer land and cultivation resources. 189 616
• Chen Ping'an — Served as Steward and Lord Yin Guan during the war, directed defensive strategy, and later received the sword formed from half of the Great Wall. 629 630 1200
• Inverted Mountain and Mount Daoxuan — Major transit points linking the Great Wall to the wider cultivation world. 278 634