Li Er

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Er (李耳) 1
Alias(es)	Laozi; Taishang; Taishang Laojun / Grand Supreme Elder Lord; Sun Wukong (assumed identity/avatar) 3 55 109 113
Species/Race	Innate Great Power; one of the Three Pure Ones and an originator of Pangu's Primordial Spirit 1 9
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Daoist Sect; Taishang Lineage; Eight Sceneries Palace 4 10
Occupation/Role	Supreme leader of the Daoist Sect; founder of the Way of Taishang; Saint and later Heavenly Dao Realm cultivator 4 46
Status	Active 141
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Corpse Slain	2	Severed his Self Corpse, Li Dan, through the Taiji Diagram; this completed his Three-Corpse severing and greatly widened the gap between him and Yuanshi and Tongtian. 2
Unspecified post-Quasi-Saint breakthrough	3	After fully comprehending the Classic of Morality, his cultivation advanced to a realm Yuanshi and Tongtian could not identify, though he had not yet become a Saint. 3
Saint	5	Proved the Dao by Slaying the Three Corpses, manifesting his Good, Evil, and Self Corpse incarnations. 5
Peak Saint	24	Refined the sole Dao Fruit and Calamity Fortune of the Witch-Demon Calamity, rising from the peak of mid-stage Saint directly to peak Saint. 24
Half-step Heavenly Dao Realm	42	Hongjun identified his strength as having touched the threshold of the Heavenly Dao Realm after Li Er killed Zhunti. 42
Heavenly Dao Realm	46	Comprehended the Heaven, Earth, and Human Books, broke through, and merged his presence with heaven and earth. 46

Background

Li Er is a transmigrator who entered the Primordial World with knowledge and ambitions distinct from his predecessor, Laozi. He initially left his cultivation ground to travel, then claimed Mount Daluo's Eight Sceneries Palace as his Daoist sanctuary. There, he obtained the Qiankun Cauldron and began comprehending the path of Slaying the Three Corpses. 1

At the Eight Sceneries Palace, Li Er severed his Self Corpse, Li Dan, using the Taiji Diagram. His success made him the first being after Hongjun known to complete the Three-Corpse path, drawing Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti to seek his insight. 2

He later comprehended and proclaimed the Classic of Morality, establishing the Way of Taishang and gaining sixty percent of the Daoist Sect's destiny. This destiny allowed him to pursue Sainthood without relying on the Human Race's grand trend or the merit-based Human Sect. 3 4

Appearance

Li Er commonly appears as a youthful man riding a Green Ox, despite carrying the bearing of an ancient Daoist power. His Dao Body is described as refined, ethereal, and full of vitality, with an aura suggesting he has seen through the changing laws of the world. 1

• Often rides a Green Ox. 1 19
• Wears flowing Daoist robes; Li Dan specifically wears a Yin-Yang Taiji Daoist robe. 2 13
• Frequently manifests vast violet qi, including the omen of Purple Qi Comes from the East. 3 19
• His eyes and presence are associated with profound Dao patterns, stars, and the authority of order. 3 102

Personality

Li Er is calm, detached, and difficult to provoke. Even when facing Hongjun or the Heavenly Dao, he generally responds without panic, preferring to demonstrate his position through decisive action rather than emotional argument. 9 22

He is fiercely independent. His refusal to establish the Human Sect was not a rejection of responsibility, but a refusal to accept Heavenly Dao control or shoulder karma that would compromise his freedom and the relationship among the Three Pure Ones. 6 10

Despite his overwhelming strength, Li Er remains pragmatic and forward-thinking. He treats alliances, destiny, and sectarian disputes as long-term strategic concerns, while also repeatedly aiding disciples, the Human Race, the Dragon Clan, and cultivators limited by the Heavenly Dao. 26 37 97 121

Abilities & Skills

Slaying the Three Corpses

Li Er's foundational path is the severing of the Good, Evil, and Self Corpses. Unlike other cultivators, he completed the process and used it to prove the Dao without dependence on Primordial Violet Qi. 2 5 22

• Self Corpse: Li Dan — A form whose appearance shifts between youth, middle age, and old age while retaining Li Er's aura. 2
• Three Corpse incarnations — His Good, Evil, and Self Corpse manifestations appeared when he proved the Dao. 5
• His insights are not easily transferable; Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti struggled because their paths and obsessions differed from his own. 2 3

One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones

Li Er can create Three Pure Ones Dao Bodies and arrange them into a Heaven-Earth-Man Trinity formation. Each Dao Body possesses early-Saint cultivation. 9

• The technique can threaten Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao through coordinated attacks. 9
• Its Dao Bodies cannot remain active indefinitely. 9
• It serves as the foundation for his Pangu Imprint rather than his ultimate technique. 9

Pangu Imprint

The Pangu Imprint is Li Er's principal killing technique, created through the merging of the Three Pure Ones. It manifests Pangu's image and carries might beyond the Saint realm. 9

• Can clash directly with the Jade Plate of Creation. 9
• Resonated with Pangu's will at Buzhou Mountain, allowing Li Er to wield the Three Axes and heavily wound the Heavenly Dao. 22 23
• Enabled him to preserve Pangu's legacy and resist the Heavenly Dao's efforts to erase it. 22
• Li Er later transferred part of the imprint's power to Chiyou while sealing the excess to protect Chiyou's foundation. 99 101

Taishang Order and Rule Power

After reaching the Heavenly Dao Realm, Li Er cultivated his own order rather than submitting to Heavenly Dao order. His existence itself can function as law. 43 58

• Drove back Heavenly Dao chains of order with a single command. 66
• Manipulates rules, space, weather, lightning, and the chaotic void. 81 87 140
• Removed the Heavenly Dao's mark from the Jade Plate of Creation and imprinted his own authority upon it. 90
• Re-established reincarnation across the Three Realms through the Earthly Scroll and Brush of Destiny. 102 103

Yin-Yang Dao

Li Er's Yin-Yang Taiji path underlies both his cultivation and support abilities. 2 21

• Used Yin-Yang Taiji essence to sever his Self Corpse. 2
• Wields attacks embodying the ultimate essence of the Taiji Dao. 21
• Used his Yin Yang Law to balance the conflicting Laws of Destruction and Creation threatening the unborn child of the Life and Destruction Demon Gods. 133
• Can manifest a white jade golden bridge through the Taiji Diagram. 22

Incarnation as Sun Wukong

During the Journey to the West-related events, Li Er acts through the identity or avatar of Sun Wukong, pursuing his own plan to erase the Heavenly Dao's remaining imprint. 108 109 113

• Refined immortal pills and peaches to advance the avatar's cultivation. 109
• Obtained the Ruyi Jingu Bang from the East Sea Dragon Palace. 112
• Broke the Nine-Bend Yellow River Array, Spirit Devouring Array, and Amrita Anointing Array. 113 114
• Uses Dharma Form Heaven and Earth, though the technique can damage his Primordial Spirit without restorative support. 114 127
• Uses the Art of Moving Mountains and Filling Seas to repair seabed fissures. 114

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Qiankun Cauldron — A supreme treasure claimed by Li Er at Mount Daluo; later used to return the Taiji Diagram, Chaos Bell, and Pangu Banner toward their original Pangu Axe form. 1 61
• Taiji Diagram — Used to sever his Self Corpse and manifest the white jade golden bridge. 2 22
• Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda — Defensive treasure that releases Xuanhuang Merit Qi. 22
• Chaos Bell — An Innate Supreme Treasure acquired and fully refined by Li Er; it possesses power over time and space. 20 31
• Pangu Banner — The final Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure Li Er refined before beginning the reverse refinement of the Pangu Axe. 61
• Pangu Axe — Chaos Supreme Treasure restored from the Taiji Diagram, Chaos Bell, and Pangu Banner; used to defeat Heavenly Dao Hongjun and Old Ancestor Yang Mei. 69 70
• Kongtong Seal — Bestowed by Hongjun alongside Li Er's authority to designate the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. 26
• Heavenly Scroll and Investiture of the Gods List — Won by Li Er during the Investiture of the Gods conflict. 45
• Jade Plate of Creation — Seized from the Heavenly Dao and later used to distribute Primordial Violet Qi and aid other cultivators. 90 98
• Ruyi Jingu Bang / Sea Calming Needle — Divine staff obtained from the East Sea Dragon Palace; inscribed as weighing thirteen thousand five hundred catties. 112
• Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp — Bestowed upon Xuandu to assist his future Three-Corpse severing. 15 32

Relationships

• Yuanshi — Younger brother among the Three Pure Ones. Yuanshi admires Li Er's strength, seeks his guidance, and remains a major ally despite differing doctrines and ambitions. 2 10 121
• Tongtian — Younger brother among the Three Pure Ones. Li Er shares cultivation insight with him, later rescues and assists him in becoming a Saint without losing strength. 2 121
• Xuandu — Disciple. Li Er tested Xuandu's resolve before accepting him, taught him the Grand Pure Immortal Method, and repeatedly sent him into the Primordial World to gain experience. 6 10 15
• Chiyou — Member of Li Er's lineage through Xuandu and a recipient of Pangu Imprint power. Li Er regards him as an important weapon against future threats while limiting his rapid advancement for his own stability. 98 101 124
• Hongjun — Former Daoist instructor and recurring opponent. Their relationship develops into a pragmatic alliance against the Heavenly Dao, which has also imprisoned Hongjun's will. 9 45 81 104
• Nuwa — A fellow Saint and politically complex ally. Li Er refused to accept the Human Race's karma from her, but later cooperated with her over Fuxi's reincarnation and the Three Sovereigns. 6 26
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Western rivals. Li Er demanded their karmic debt after instructing them, later expelled them from the Daoist Sect and killed Zhunti with the Chaos Bell. 3 37 42
• Zhen Yuanzi — Ally and holder of the Earthly Scroll. Li Er borrowed the scroll to comprehend and later re-establish the Three Realms, promising Zhen Yuanzi future aid in return. 45 102 103
• Clear Lotus Demon God — Close companion and ally against the Chaos Demon Gods. She accompanies Li Er through the Underworld and Changbai Mountain, while privately developing feelings for him. 125 128 134
• Meng Po — Fellow transmigrator and friend. She gives Li Er a companion stone and shares his understanding of being displaced from another world. 135 136
• Dragon Clan — Protected allies. Li Er chose to protect the clan from the Darkness Demon God and Outer Realm Demons; Ao Run pledged the Dragon Clan's allegiance to the Taishang Lineage. 114 117

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise of Taishang

Li Er establishes himself at the Eight Sceneries Palace, slays the Third Corpse, comprehends the Classic of Morality, and proves the Dao through the Three-Corpse path. His rise gives him control of most Daoist destiny and establishes the Way of Taishang as a force independent of the Human Sect. 1 2 4 5

Defiance of the Heavenly Dao

When Hongjun orders him to establish the Human Sect, Li Er refuses. He challenges Hongjun with One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones and the Pangu Imprint, forcing the Heavenly Dao to compromise and allowing other Saints to establish their own sects. 6 9 10

Guardian of Pangu's Legacy

Li Er resists the Heavenly Dao's campaign against Buzhou Mountain and the Pangu Imprint. Through resonance with Pangu's will, he wounds the Heavenly Dao and prevents it from descending again in the near term. 22 23

Human Race and Daoist Sect Strategist

Hongjun grants Li Er authority over the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, along with the Kongtong Seal. Li Er arranges Fuxi's reincarnation, secures Xuandu's role as Imperial Teacher, and reclaims Daoist Sect destiny from Jieyin and Zhunti. 26 32 37

Investiture of the Gods

Li Er gains the Heavenly Scroll and Investiture of the Gods List, uses Shen Gongbao as a hidden agent within the Buddhist Sect, and directs Jiang Ziya and other figures to accelerate the tribulation according to his own strategy. 45 47 63

War Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens

After restoring the Pangu Axe into a Chaos Supreme Treasure, Li Er confronts Heavenly Dao Hongjun and Old Ancestor Yang Mei. He destroys the Jade Plate of Creation, kills Yang Mei, and forces Heavenly Dao Hongjun into slumber, briefly freeing Dao Ancestor Hongjun. 69 70

Reshaping the Primordial World

Li Er divides the Primordial World into four continents, appoints Haotian to oversee the Earthly Immortal Realm, spreads Primordial Violet Qi to living beings, and changes the laws so Quasi-Saints can prove the Dao through force. 73 97 98

Journey to the West and the Outer Realm Demons

Operating as Sun Wukong, Li Er causes disruption in the Heavenly Court, acquires the Ruyi Jingu Bang, dismantles arrays linked to the Darkness Demon God, and becomes involved with the Dragon Clan, Underworld, and Chaos Demon Gods. 108 112 114 125 127

Notable Quotes

“Slaying the Three Corpses to verify the true self, today I know that I am I!” 2

“Even if you are the Heavenly Dao, I will still express my will. We were born free, and no one can stand above us. If Heaven tries to suppress me, I will break Heaven!” 68