Old Demon

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Old Demon (老魔头)
Alias(es)	Sky-Breaking Demon Lord; Jiang Tianxiao 28 276
Species/Race	Human demonic cultivator 276
Gender	Male 28
Affiliation	Former sect master of an unnamed demonic sect; later forcibly bound to protect Song Chengan under Mingwang Temple's Mother-Child Life Curse 276 329
Occupation/Role	Demonic cultivator; former sect master; unwilling guardian of Song Chengan 276 329
Cultivation	Former Nascent Soul cultivator, reduced to Golden Core Early Stage 276 355
Status	Alive; separated from Song Chengan but remains unable to kill him without endangering himself 363
First Appearance	As the imprisoned Sky-Breaking Demon Lord 28

Background / History

The Old Demon was born with two spirit souls despite not being a twin. The second soul never fought him for control, and he regarded it as a friend; when it eventually vanished, he was left with an unusually powerful spirit soul. His strange behavior as a child led others to consider him a lunatic or monster. 276

A demonic cultivator later massacred his village to refine a Magic Treasure, leaving him alive and taking him in as a medicinal slave. Once his talent became apparent, the cultivator raised him as a future vessel for Body Snatching. The Old Demon survived the attempt when his would-be possessor returned severely wounded, killed him, and seized control of the sect through further violence. 276

By the time of his encounter with First Boss Bai, he was imprisoned beneath Peach Blossom Temple. He addressed Bai as his “good disciple” and attempted to entice him with a lifespan-burning spiritual power, indicating a prior master-disciple connection between them. 28

He later re-emerged as the Sky-Breaking Demon Lord, a notorious figure feared by major cultivators. He attempted to force his way into the Moon God Grotto-Heaven, but Old Freak Qi, Daoist Shangnan, and Patriarch Gu joined forces to deter him. 118

Appearance

The Old Demon is an aged, imposing man whose appearance varies with his circumstances and cultivation.

• Tall, with a full white beard and large copper-bell eyes while imprisoned at Peach Blossom Temple. 28
• Has appeared in tattered, beggar-like clothing while using the identity of the Sky-Breaking Demon Lord. 118
• Often manifests or travels as black smoke when evading danger. 292
• His body and complexion have deteriorated after his cultivation regression. 302

Personality

The Old Demon is greedy, proud, crude, and intensely self-preserving. He covets treasures, resents being restrained, and readily abandons allies when doing so benefits him; he betrayed Brother Dan to avoid punishment after helping him sneak into the Xiao residence. 288 357

He treats morality as a matter of action rather than cultivation method, arguing that demonic arts can be righteous if used to save people. However, his conduct remains inconsistent: he sought to erase Meng Sen's consciousness to refine him into a Magic Treasure, then later warned Meng Sen sincerely about the dangers faced by ghost cultivators. 287 288 333

Despite his cowardice before overwhelmingly powerful opponents, he possesses experience and discernment. He recognizes threats Song Chengan overlooks, deliberately lets Song face danger to temper him, and killed the Tiger Yao rather than allow its dangerous karma-based technique to remain a future threat. 317 336 338

His outlook has shown some change. After hearing villagers speak of their lost children, he reflected that the people he had once killed casually each left grieving families behind. 312

Abilities & Skills

Demonic Cultivation

A former Nascent Soul great cultivator, the Old Demon retains formidable combat experience despite falling to the Golden Core stage.

• Once concealed his aura well enough to ambush Song Chengan after the latter had borrowed power comparable to Golden Core peak. 276
• Could intimidate ordinary cultivators and mortals even while his cultivation was reduced. 291 355
• Contributed to breaking Jingxiu's Vajra Realm alongside Song Chengan, Li Zhuer, and the Corpse General. 336
• His current cultivation is restricted and he fears the exposure of his regression. 282 311

Concealment and Escape

The Old Demon possesses methods for concealing heavenly secrets and escaping pursuers.

• Claims that his ability to conceal his aura enabled his ambush of Song Chengan. 276
• Escaped Song Qiu by transforming into black smoke and rushing toward Arhat City. 292
• States that such concealment methods were necessary for survival because both righteous and demonic factions seek his life. 336

Cultivation Knowledge

Having lived through centuries of cultivation, he is knowledgeable about grotto-heavens, corpse cultivation, restrictions, and spiritual powers.

• Explained the rules governing the entrance and ownership of Yinshi Mountain, including how a grotto-heaven master can bar later entrants. 282 283
• Identified the Corpse Coffin as Yinshi Mountain's Grotto-Heaven Spirit Treasure. 288
• Diagnosed Dai Bo as a victim of Human Core Pill refinement by sensing the vitality remaining in his body. 296
• Recognized the danger of the Tiger Yao's karma-based technique when Song Chengan did not. 317

Mountain Searching Technique

The Old Demon possesses the Mountain Searching Technique and taught it to Song Chengan.

• The technique requires a calm mind and orthodox True Qi; demonic methods involving blood sacrifice or killing are incompatible with it. 314
• Song Chengan mastered the technique immediately after receiving it, surprising the Old Demon. 314

Limitations

• A Restriction Precious Bead leaves his cultivation suppressed; Song Chengan can threaten to expose his weakened state by crushing it. 282 311
• The Mother-Child Life Curse binds his survival to Song Chengan's, forcing him into the role of guardian. 329 363
• His fear of death makes him reluctant to confront powerful enemies, particularly forces connected to Spirit Mountain and Mingwang Temple. 336 338
• He cannot kill Song Chengan without dying himself, even though he considers Song Chengan weaker in direct combat. 363

Relationships

• Song Chengan — Initially a target of his hostility and greed, then an unwilling traveling companion after his cultivation was restricted. He teaches Song cultivation techniques and sometimes protects him, including sacrificing himself to delay Song Qiu; their lives later become linked by the Mother-Child Life Curse. 282 292 314 329
• First Boss Bai — His former disciple or associate. Bai imprisoned him beneath Peach Blossom Temple, while the Old Demon continued to address him as his “good disciple.” 28
• Song Qiu — Enemy who severely injured and drove him away when he tried to kill Song Chengan. Song Qiu later pursued both Song Chengan and the Old Demon to Arhat City. 276 292
• Meng Sen — The Old Demon initially wanted to erase his consciousness and refine him into a Magic Treasure, but later acknowledged the quality of Meng Sen's ghost cultivation and warned him about the land between life and death. 287 288
• Great Joy Zen Master — Bound him to Song Chengan with the Mother-Child Life Curse and designated him as Song's guardian. 329
• Ye Cangxian — A frequent target of his insults; he dismisses her fox-spirit lineage and mocks her appearance and plans. 314
• Aiyier — A traveling companion whom he regularly teases, particularly over her appetite. 314
• Brother Dan — Encouraged him to sneak into the Xiao residence, then betrayed him when they were caught. 357

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yinshi Mountain

The Old Demon eagerly led Song Chengan toward Yinshi Mountain after its entrance appeared, hoping to seize the ownerless Minor Grotto-Heaven. He killed Chang Song when Chang offered Song Chengan all of Yinshi Mountain's inheritance, then attempted to claim its Spirit Treasure before Song revealed that he already possessed the Corpse Coffin. 282 287 288

Flight from Song Qiu

While fleeing Song Qiu toward Arhat City, the Old Demon transformed into black smoke to create an opening for Song Chengan's escape. He sacrificed himself in the ensuing pursuit, revealing an unexpected willingness to risk his life for Song. 292

Western Desert Journey

He accompanied Song Chengan into the Western Desert because the Restriction Precious Bead prevented him from leaving freely. During the journey, he taught Song the Mountain Searching Technique, judged the Tiger Yao too dangerous to spare, and gradually began acknowledging Song's extraordinary talent. 311 314 317 333

Mingwang Temple

At Mingwang Temple, the Great Joy Zen Master forced Song Chengan to become his disciple and bound the Old Demon as Song's guardian through the Mother-Child Life Curse. The Old Demon resented the arrangement and repeatedly opposed Song's involvement in the conflict with Mingwang Temple out of fear for his own life. 329 338

Later Separation

After Song Chengan returned home and reached Golden Core Formation, the Old Demon remained an uneasy companion. He eventually proposed that they go their separate ways, offering paid assistance if Song encountered an enemy he could not defeat. 359 363

Notable Quotes

“Evil people should die. Good people will do the work of saving people. When did it become the turn of an evil person to do it?” 287

“If you want to kill them, kill them yourself!” 282