Elder Mei Shan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Elder Mei Shan (梅山长老)
Alias(es)	Grand Elder Mei Shan; “Grandpa Mei Shan”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tianhe Sword Sect
Occupation/Role	Grand Elder; First-Rank sword cultivator
Status	Deceased; his remains were placed in an ice coffin and later escorted toward Juque City by Liu Changhe and Pei Xue 255 293 316
First Appearance	Chapter 194

Background / History

Mei Shan was a disciple of Elder Xuanxiao, the previous Grand Elder of the Tianhe Sword Sect. Xuanxiao used the sect’s ninth Sword Stele to seal the Demonic Cultivator known as the King of Hell, then died from his injuries three years later. Mei Shan’s senior brother, Xu Qingfeng, subsequently went to guard the sealed location in Cuihai Commandery. 205 196

Mei Shan later became the Tianhe Sword Sect’s Grand Elder and one of its central pillars. He was over a hundred years old and had reached the late First Rank, though he never surpassed that realm to become a Martial Saint. 194 195

Years before his final journey, Mei Shan entered seclusion publicly to seek a breakthrough. In truth, he was attempting to slow the decay of his Blood Essence with medicine; he had become increasingly unable to sustain his full strength and had lost the resolve to gamble on a Martial Saint breakthrough. 195

He ended his seclusion after sect elders sought his intervention over Lu Zhaojin’s entry into Myriad Sword Valley. Recognizing Lu’s exceptional Sword Dao talent and his connection to Tianhe Sword Sect techniques, Mei Shan chose to accompany him to Cuihai Commandery and retrieve the ninth Sword Stele. 194 195 196

Appearance

Mei Shan was an elderly man in white robes with a kindly face, benevolent smile, and an appraising gaze that made Lu Zhaojin feel as though he were being regarded as a fine piece of jade. 194

• Long gray-white beard 222
• Aged and at times slightly hunched due to his failing Blood Essence 195 243
• Could straighten his posture and project an abyss-like First-Rank aura when fighting 243
• His eyes became murky and lifeless after his death in Ice Valley 255

Personality

Mei Shan was calm, measured, and courteous even when confronted by hostile sect elders or Huyan Clan commanders. He disliked needless conflict and was dismissive of petty complaints, but he was willing to leave seclusion to deal with threats to the Tianhe Sword Sect. 194 195 239

He treated talented juniors with warmth rather than seniority. He openly admired Lu Zhaojin’s potential, worried about Liu Changhe’s ability to ever surpass him, and continued to call Lu “young friend” even while relying on him as an ally. 195 240

His advanced age made him reflective and sentimental. Revisiting the Tianqian River brought back memories of his master, while encountering Xu Qingfeng left him conflicted between affection for his senior brother and the duty to end Xu’s demonic possession. 205 242 250

Abilities & Skills

Late First-Rank Martial Path Cultivation

Mei Shan possessed late First-Rank cultivation and was regarded as one of the foremost martial artists in Jianghu in the absence of a Martial Saint. 194 195

• His aura could be completely contained within his body, concealing the extent of his power. 205
• He could rescue Liu Changhe and Pei Xue from an explosion by instantly moving them into the air. 206
• His declining Blood Essence severely limited his endurance; fully unsealing his power depleted True Essence that his body could no longer replenish. 195 250
• Before the confrontation with the Tuoba Clan, he believed he had only one opportunity left to unleash his full strength. 222

Third-Realm Sword Dao

Mei Shan had reached the Third Realm of Sword Dao, though he could not provide Lu Zhaojin with answers regarding the Fourth Realm. 195

• Possessed the unique Heavenly River Sword Intent. 243
• Used the Tianhe Nine Swords, the Tianhe Sword Sect’s secret art. 250
• Performed Tianhe Gui Xu, his strongest recorded sword strike, against Xu Qingfeng. 251
• Could contend with Xu Qingfeng for control of the ninth Sword Stele through the sect’s Sword Art. 248

Movement Technique

Mei Shan employed an unusually subtle movement technique.

• Could disappear from a carriage without Liu Changhe noticing and reappear by the Tianqian River bridge. 205
• Passed Huyan Clan guards unnoticed, seeming to them like nothing more than a gust of wind. 237
• Crossed the Ice Valley entrance through arrow fire in strides that appeared like teleportation. 239

Divine Sense and Sword Stele Knowledge

Mei Shan’s perception could detect Lu Zhaojin the moment he entered Myriad Sword Mountain, though he refrained from prying into the young swordsman’s private affairs. 195

• Knew that the ninth Sword Stele was located somewhere in Cuihai Commandery, though he no longer remembered the exact location after a century had passed. 195 196
• Identified the Sword Stele’s role in sealing the King of Hell. 194
• Taught Lu Zhaojin the incantation needed to establish a connection with and move the recovered Sword Stele. 255

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Clear Wind Sword — A flowing blue sword originally obtained by Xu Qingfeng in his youth. Mei Shan gifted it to Lu Zhaojin so that Xu Qingfeng would recognize the bearer at the sealed location. 196
• Ninth Sword Stele — The Tianhe Sword Sect artifact Mei Shan sought to recover from Ice Valley; it had been used to suppress the King of Hell. 194 235

Relationships

• Elder Xuanxiao — Mei Shan’s master and the former Tianhe Sword Sect Grand Elder; Xuanxiao sealed the King of Hell at the cost of fatal injuries. 205
• Xu Qingfeng — His senior brother, the Clear Wind Sword Hero. Mei Shan admired his talent but ultimately fought him after Xu fell into demonic possession. 195 242 250
• Pei Lingfeng — Tianhe Sword Sect Leader and Mei Shan’s junior; Mei Shan frequently reprimanded him for his impulsiveness. 195
• Liu Ci — Mei Shan’s junior brother and a gifted swordsman who later became ancestor of the Liu family. 199
• Ruan Xiuyun — Mei Shan’s former beloved disciple; their relationship deteriorated after she chose to marry Yao Shicheng. 188
• Liu Changhe — His disciple and the Tianhe Sword Sect’s chief disciple. Mei Shan entrusted him with responsibilities while recognizing Lu Zhaojin’s overwhelming talent. 240 293
• Pei Xue — His granddaughter, who affectionately called him “Grandpa Mei Shan” and later helped escort his coffin home. 223 294 316
• Helian Xiongying — An old acquaintance and ally in Cuihai Commandery; the two discussed the risks of confronting the Tuoba Clan. 201 222
• Helian Ziyi — Helian Xiongying’s granddaughter. Mei Shan treated her with kindness after recognizing her resemblance to her grandfather. 201
• Lu Zhaojin — A young sword cultivator Mei Shan admired and accompanied to Cuihai Commandery. Mei Shan trusted him to stop Yanluo Hall and recover the Sword Stele. 195 243 255

Story Role / Major Arcs

Myriad Sword Valley

Mei Shan ended his seclusion when disputes over Lu Zhaojin’s access to Myriad Sword Valley reached him. He drove the complaining elders away, met Lu, and confirmed that the youth had late Third-Rank Martial Path cultivation and Third-Realm Sword Dao talent. 194 195

Unable to answer Lu’s questions about the Fourth Realm of Sword Dao, Mei Shan instead revealed that Xu Qingfeng had entered that realm long ago. He informed Lu that the King of Hell’s seal was located in Cuihai Commandery and chose to travel with him. 195 196

Journey to Cuihai Commandery

During the journey, Mei Shan recognized that Lu’s Purple Heaven Thunderclap Sword Art resembled the Tianhe Nine Swords and explained the history of Liu Ci, his junior brother. 199 200

At the Tianqian River, Mei Shan recalled his master’s battle against the King of Hell and admitted that his current condition prevented him from resolving the lingering Sword Intent there himself. 205

He witnessed Lu Zhaojin break through to the Second Rank and erase Elder Xuanxiao’s Sword Intent with Sword Twenty-Three, leaving Mei Shan visibly shocked by the feat. 211

Ice Valley and the Ninth Sword Stele

Mei Shan entered Huyan territory to retrieve the ninth Sword Stele, which the Huyan Tribe called the Spirit Awakening Stele and refused to surrender. He concluded that the tribe had been borrowing power from the Demonic Cult and was connected to the growing unrest on the grasslands. 235 237

He and Lu infiltrated Ice Valley, where Mei Shan used his movement technique to bypass the outer defenders. When five Huyan commanders stalled him with a formation, Lu intervened and shattered their attack. 239 240

At the Sword Stele, Mei Shan found Xu Qingfeng alive but consumed by demonic possession and obsessed with reaching the Martial Saint realm. Mei Shan sent Lu to stop Yanluo Hall from destroying the seal while he confronted his senior brother. 242 243

Death and Return

Mei Shan fought Xu Qingfeng above Ice Valley, wielding the Tianhe Nine Swords and Tianhe Gui Xu while trying to prevent both his senior brother’s madness and the King of Hell’s escape. 250 251 254

After the battle, Mei Shan’s life force was completely exhausted. Lu Zhaojin placed his body in an ice coffin, recovered the Sword Stele using Mei Shan’s incantation, and later informed Liu Changhe of the Grand Elder’s death. 255 293

Liu Changhe and Pei Xue then escorted Mei Shan’s coffin toward Juque City, intending to return his remains to the Tianhe Sword Sect. 294 295 316