Taishang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Taishang (太上)
Alias(es)	Taishang Laojun; Saint Taishang; Sect Master Taishang; First Martial Uncle
Gender	Male
Affiliation	The Three Pure Ones; Taiqing Palace, Mount Kunlun; founder of the Human Teachings 7 50
Occupation/Role	Sect Master; alchemist; founder and guide of the Human Teachings 1 8 50
Status	Saint 1
First Appearance	Extra Story: The Saints' Farewell 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Saint Dao clarified	48	Bai Jin's observation that the Three Pure Ones should inherit the Dao Ancestor's will leads Taishang to recognize education as his path toward sainthood. 48
Human Teachings established	50	He establishes the Human Teachings to enlighten humanity, suppressing its destiny with the Taiji Diagram and using the Green Lotus Carrying Pole as his Dao-proving treasure. 50
Saint	1	In the setting of the extra story, he is addressed as Saint Taishang among the Saints gathered in Chaos. 1

Background / History

Taishang resides at Taiqing Palace on Mount Kunlun alongside Yuanshi and Tongtian, the other two members of the Three Pure Ones. He receives Bai Jin courteously and grants him the Taiji Diagram for protection during his journey through the dangerous Great Desolation. 2

When Jieyin and Zhunti visit Mount Kunlun, Taishang orders Duobao to host their disciples and invites the senior cultivators to a Pill Appreciation Ceremony. During their discussion of the Saintly Dao, he defines his own principle: acting without striving while benefiting others without harm. 7 8 9

Taishang develops a fondness for Bai Jin's gifts, retaining the Big Red Robe Mother Tree and naming its product “Taiji Tea.” He later personally corrects Bai Jin's Taiji Boxing over the course of a month, transforming the technique into the Taiji Divine Ability. 18 20

After Nuwa's ascension inspires Duobao's proposal to attain sainthood through a “Saint Pill,” Taishang seriously considers the idea. The Three Pure Ones' ensuing attempts fail under Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. 42 46 Bai Jin later helps them recognize that their true path lies in carrying forward the Dao Ancestor's work of teaching and guiding living beings. 48

Taishang's Saintly Path becomes bound to the Human Race. After negotiating with Nuwa over humanity's destiny and the limits of their future involvement, he founds the Human Teachings at Buzhou Mountain. 50

Personality

Taishang is gentle, composed, and deliberate. He favors restraint over contention, judging that a disciple's loss in a Dao debate reflects insufficient understanding rather than an insult requiring intervention. 9

He is also a demanding but patient teacher. His instruction of Bai Jin consists of repeated, painful corrections, yet he recognizes perseverance and openly expresses satisfaction when Bai Jin grasps the essence of Taiji. 20

Taishang values upright conduct and compassion. He admonishes Bai Jin against relying on surprise attacks, warning that improper actions can lead to an improper heart; he approves when Bai Jin explains that he spared an opponent rather than be ruled by anger. 29

Abilities & Skills

Dao of Non-Contention

Taishang's understanding of the Saintly Dao emphasizes benefiting all beings without causing harm and acting without striving. 2 9

• His teachings form the philosophical basis for the Human Teachings. 48 50
• He identifies education and guidance as the Three Pure Ones' inheritance from the Dao Ancestor. 48

Alchemy

Taishang refines immortal pills and hosts a Pill Appreciation Ceremony for visiting senior cultivators. 8

• Provides Bai Jin with healing pills for the injured Shi Ji. 29
• Considers refining an unprecedented “Saint Pill” after Duobao presents the proposal. 42
• The Saint Pill approach ultimately fails to lead the Three Pure Ones to sainthood. 46

Taiji Instruction

Taishang possesses a profound grasp of Taiji's balance between hardness and softness. 15 20

• Corrects Bai Jin's Taiji Boxing through direct divine interventions. 20
• Guides Bai Jin until the technique produces a Taiji Diagram and becomes the Taiji Divine Ability. 20
• Names Bai Jin's tea preparation “Taiji Tea” after recognizing its correspondence with Taiji and Wuji. 20

Saint-Level Authority

As a Saint, Taishang is counted among the eight great Saints who defend the Great Desolation against invading outer-realm forces. 1

• Establishes the Human Teachings with a declaration witnessed by the Heavenly Dao. 50
• Uses the Taiji Diagram to suppress the destiny of the Human Teachings. 50

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Taiji Diagram — A protective treasure Taishang lends to Bai Jin; it later serves as the destiny-suppressing treasure of the Human Teachings. 2 50
• Green Lotus Carrying Pole — Taishang's treasure for establishing the Human Teachings and proving his Dao. 50
• Big Red Robe Mother Tree — A tea tree gifted by Bai Jin that Taishang keeps because it greatly suits his tastes. 18 20
• Samadhi True Fire — A divine flame he bestows upon Bai Jin for preparing tea. 15
• Immortal pills — Refined pills used for ceremonies and healing. 8 29

Relationships

• Bai Jin — Martial nephew and favored junior. Taishang grants him the Taiji Diagram, trains his Taiji Boxing, provides pills for Shi Ji, and recognizes Bai Jin's role in clarifying the Three Pure Ones' Saintly Paths. 2 20 29 48
• Yuanshi — Younger brother and fellow member of the Three Pure Ones. They stand together in external affairs and jointly pursue the path to sainthood. 7 48 50
• Tongtian — Younger brother and fellow member of the Three Pure Ones. Their different temperaments occasionally lead to disagreements, but they remain united before outsiders. 7 48 50
• Nuwa — Junior sister whose ascension spurs Taishang's own search for enlightenment. They negotiate over humanity's destiny before he establishes the Human Teachings. 8 32 50
• Duobao — Tongtian's disciple. Duobao proposes the Saint Pill concept, which Taishang considers, though the resulting Dao-proving attempt fails. 42 46
• Jieyin and Zhunti — Visiting junior brothers who seek guidance regarding the Way of the Saint. 8 9

Notable Quotes

“The Way of Heaven is to benefit without harming; the Way of the Saint is to act without striving.” 9

“I, Taishang, today establish a sect, which is the Human Teachings. It shall enlighten the Human Race of the world...” 50

Trivia

• Taishang names Bai Jin's tea Taiji Tea after seeing the Taiji and Wuji principles embodied in its preparation. 20
• He is visibly pleased by Bai Jin's perseverance despite the harshness of his training. 20
• In the extra story, he joins Yuanshi and Tongtian in swiftly leaving after Bai Jin's identical gifts provoke Nuwa and Pingxin. 1