Li Xuanxiao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Xuanxiao (李玄霄)
Alias(es)	Ling Xuanxiao; Jia Sidao; Murong Mo; Elder Soul; Zhang Haoran; Shuoyue Ye
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shushan Sect; Silver Sword Peak; Heavenly Fiend Hall
Occupation/Role	Shushan disciple; Deputy Sect Leader of Shushan; Deputy Cult Master of the Heavenly Fiend Hall; Protector of the Ghost King
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Golden Core Stage	53	Conceals his true cultivation, receiving only Qi Refining-level sect resources despite already being a Golden Core cultivator.
Nascent Soul Stage	245	Reaches Nascent Soul and gains additional clones while handling Shushan affairs from Buxianxian.
Nascent Soul Stage, stabilized	293	Stabilizes his cultivation and reflects on the urgency of his future plans.
Body Integration Stage	460	Forces a breakthrough using resentment and soul power absorbed through the Myriad Souls Banner.
Body Integration Stage, stabilized	466	The Sword Spirit suppresses and sorts the backlash within him for three days, allowing Shushan sword intent and Banner-derived soul power to coexist.

Background / History

Li Xuanxiao is a transmigrator taken into Shushan by its former Sect Leader twenty years before the latter's death. The Sect Leader's guidance turned him from a despairing newcomer into a devoted Shushan disciple, and Li Xuanxiao formally sees him off after returning from a mission. 2

He practices Shushan's Path of Ruthlessness, which he explains not as emotionlessness but as a path requiring cultivation of the self. After witnessing the suffering caused by selfish obsession in Luoshui Town, he comes to understand it as a selfless “Path of All Beings.” 5 48

To avoid becoming a conspicuous target, he habitually conceals his cultivation, arranges contingencies, and uses clones and alternate identities. His fear that Shushan could be destroyed drives much of his surveillance, manipulation, and preparation. 53 67 73 106

After Shushan is destroyed, Li Xuanxiao survives and spends thirty years recovering on Di Nüfeng's lotus platform. He returns seeking the Myriad Souls Banner and revenge for Shushan, though his pursuit of power increasingly costs him his health, lifespan, and restraint. 329 340 438 460

Appearance

Li Xuanxiao is described as pale and composed, with loose robes and a faint, unhurried smile. By the time he appears at Xiangshan Academy, his unbound hair has turned silver-white. 335

• Pale complexion and refined features. 335
• Long silver-white hair, often left unbound. 335
• Usually wears multiple layers of protective and poison-treated robes, along with numerous storage rings. 135
• Can alter his presentation through disguises such as the old Daoist Jia Sidao and the identity of Shuoyue Ye. 135 437

Personality

Li Xuanxiao is cautious to an extreme degree. He treats potential threats as problems to be anticipated rather than confronted directly, scouts routes in advance, maintains backup plans, and prefers concealment over attention. 74 95 135

Despite his calculating habits, he is compassionate in selective, practical ways. He saves Zhao Lu without seeking recognition, delivers the final letters and silver of the dead to their families, helps Servant Peak disciples, and leaves resources for Shang Linqing after rescuing her. 3 48 74 94

He generally avoids killing because he fears karmic consequences, but his later use of the Myriad Souls Banner reveals a ruthless side willing to absorb souls and destroy entire hostile forces to secure revenge and advancement. 74 437 460

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

A Shushan sword cultivator capable of fighting through conventional sword techniques, natal flying-sword control, and Shushan sword intent.

• Practices and improves control of his Natal Flying Sword in the desert. 359
• Can control the Shushan Sword Formation. 94
• Uses a Poison Sword while disguised as Jia Sidao. 161
• His Body Integration breakthrough harmonizes righteous Shushan sword intent with the soul power of the Myriad Souls Banner. 466

Poison Arts and Alchemy

Li Xuanxiao is an accomplished alchemist and poison cultivator whose knowledge becomes substantially greater after obtaining the complete Poison Scripture.

• Refines pills to compensate for his lack of cultivation resources while hiding his true realm. 53 55
• Obtains the latter half of the Poison Scripture from the Old Turtle's shell. 106
• Studies the Poison Scripture with Zhang Wenxuan, whose medical and poison knowledge complements his own. 154
• Uses poison against stronger opponents while attempting to avoid unnecessary killing. 108
• Teaches alchemists techniques for preparing minerals and controlling toxicity during elixir refinement. 411

Formations, Talismans, and Defensive Preparation

Li Xuanxiao relies heavily on formations and layered safeguards.

• His residence is protected by a grand formation that even the Sweeping Grandfather cannot bypass unnoticed. 94
• Works with the Sweeping Grandfather to improve the defenses of Silver Sword Peak. 95 106
• His mind is protected by a Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Array, Natal Talisman, Inner Demon, and Soul Devouring Gu Worm. 152
• Places a Heart-Locking Sword Talisman in Zi Shan's heart to ensure obedience. 473

Clones and Alternate Identities

Li Xuanxiao uses clones to reduce personal risk and sustain multiple long-term schemes.

• Sends clones ahead to scout dangerous routes and prepare alternate escape paths. 95
• Uses clones in the Lesser Cold Realm while his true body remains hidden underground. 73
• Delegates Shushan business through clones while digesting the Senior Disciple's Sword Intent. 245
• His numerous identities and personas eventually strain his mental state. 180 214

Myriad Souls Banner

The Myriad Souls Banner becomes Li Xuanxiao's most destructive asset and a major source of his later power.

• Uses it to kill Bai Jing and absorb her soul after Shushan's destruction. 340
• Uses the souls of Chen Liu and Master Bai against the rulers of eight Ghost Domain regions. 434
• Absorbs the Lin Family city's guards, laborers, and cultivators into the Banner. 437
• Uses the Banner's accumulated resentment and soul power to force his Body Integration breakthrough. 460
• Its backlash is borne in part by his Self Corpse before the power is returned to him. 466

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Natal Flying Sword — practiced and summoned in the Yellow Sand City region. 359
• Crane-Top Silver Needles — his natal treasure artifact, which he seeks Essence Refining Stones to upgrade. 74
• Myriad Souls Banner — soul-absorbing artifact used for combat, slaughter, and cultivation advancement. 340 434 460
• Poison Scripture — a two-part manual that advances his understanding of the Way of Poison. 95 106
• Buddhist Treasure Artifact — used to suppress his feelings for Di Nüfeng. 106
• Numerous storage rings and layered robes — part of his habitual preparation before leaving home. 135

Relationships

• Former Shushan Sect Leader — adoptive master and formative mentor; Li Xuanxiao remains deeply affected by his death and carries his wish to protect Shushan. 2 329
• Daoist Master Lingxu — master and later Sect Leader; their relationship is built on trust but becomes strained as Lingxu grows suspicious of Li Xuanxiao. 2 115 194
• Xue Yun — Senior Brother whom Li Xuanxiao admires as a peerless genius; their conflict ends with Xue Yun sacrificing himself to reseal the Demon Suppressing Pagoda. 2 176
• Zhao Lu — Junior Sister and former princess; Li Xuanxiao protects and trains her, while she harbors romantic feelings for him and later becomes Empress of Great Xia. 5 115 245 340
• Feng Liuli — Junior Sister and student; Li Xuanxiao guides and tests her while retaining some distrust of her. 73 194
• Di Nüfeng — ally and object of Li Xuanxiao's conflicted affection; she assists his plans and later keeps his presence in the Heavenly Fiend Hall secret. 103 355 473
• Sword Spirit — subordinate and trusted protector; she helps stabilize his Body Integration breakthrough at great cost to herself. 135 293 466
• Sweeping Grandfather — Shushan Esteemed Elder who becomes Li Xuanxiao's collaborator in formations after passing his prolonged tests of trust. 94 95
• Zhang Wenxuan — senior poison expert who probes Li Xuanxiao's mind, then studies the Poison Scripture alongside him. 152 154
• Liu Qiushui — Demon Lord who keeps Li Xuanxiao in Yong'an Town while he pretends to be a fool and searches for an escape opportunity. 152 201
• Lin An — young aspiring swordsman to whom Li Xuanxiao gives the Nameless Sword Manual and agrees to teach swordsmanship. 355

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shushan Disciple and Hidden Guardian

Li Xuanxiao returns to Shushan after the former Sect Leader's death, becomes one of Silver Sword Peak's remaining senior disciples, and accepts missions while trying to keep his true strength hidden. 2 10 53

Prevention of Shushan's Destruction

He monitors disciples, investigates suspicious figures, mentors Zhao Lu and Feng Liuli, and covertly guides Xiao Ran as Elder Soul in an attempt to prevent foreseeable threats to Shushan. 67 82 83 194

Search for the Poison Scripture

After securing the Sweeping Grandfather's trust, Li Xuanxiao leaves Shushan with carefully prepared routes to find the second half of the Poison Scripture, returning with powerful materials from the Old Turtle's shell. 95 106

Shushan's Fall and Revenge

Following Shushan's destruction, Li Xuanxiao returns after decades of recovery, kills Bai Jing with the Myriad Souls Banner, reunites with Empress Zhao Lu, and begins pursuing the Banner and those responsible. 329 340 341

Ghost Domain Conquest

Li Xuanxiao kills Chen Liu and Master Bai, becomes the Ghost King's Protector, challenges eight regional rulers, and uses the Myriad Souls Banner to eradicate hostile cultivators in the Lin Family's territory. 430 434 437

Body Integration Breakthrough

With his lifespan dwindling, Li Xuanxiao embraces a dangerous method of advancement: consuming the souls left by the devastation in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. He reaches the Body Integration Stage and survives its backlash with the Sword Spirit's aid. 438 460 466

Heavenly Fiend Hall Deputy Cult Master

As Deputy Cult Master, Li Xuanxiao leverages Di Nüfeng's support and manipulates Zi Shan into moving the Qinghe Water Tribe, setting rival forces against each other. 473

Notable Quotes

“The Path of Ruthlessness was never truly without feeling; rather, it was the Path of All Beings, a selfless, great love.” 48

“The fate of Shushan rests with you both.” 95

“Good! Better than ever before!” 466

Trivia

• Li Xuanxiao knows even minor Shushan disciples well enough to compile personal profiles and evaluate their risk level. 74
• He aided Servant Peak disciples partly as an investment in possible future powerhouses. 94
• He was in the world for forty years by the end of the year marked in Chapter 293. 293
• His extensive use of identities and clones leaves him fearing eventual mental illness. 180 214