Li Ya

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Ya (李涯)
Alias(es)	Sword God; Number One Under Heaven Sword Cultivator; Number One Under Heaven Great Cultivator; First Merit Immortal 733 779 956
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Cang Dynasty royal family; Taixuan Sect; Heavenly Court Merit Immortals 11 130 956
Occupation / Role	Sword cultivator, wandering cultivator, founder-teacher of a developing orthodoxy, mentor to Li Xianyou 862 934 956
Status	Alive; a Saint from the future 1107
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Realm, 6th layer	2	His cultivation is revealed after one year in Medicine Valley.
Qi Refining Realm, 9th layer	6	Reaches the threshold of Foundation Establishment before leaving Medicine Valley.
Foundation Establishment Realm, 2nd layer	11	His rapid rise draws attention; he is also reported to be contesting power with an elder brother.
Foundation Establishment Realm, 4th layer	21	Returns to Medicine Valley injured after dangerous Outer Sect missions.
Golden Core Realm	60	Claims this realm while returning to protect Gu An.
Golden Core Realm, 9th layer	130	Duels An Hao, who defeats him at the first layer of Nascent Soul Realm.
Profound Heart Realm	356	Inherits the Three Pure Mountains’ legacy and is recognized as a Great Cultivator.
Wondrous Dharma Spirit Immortal	654	Visits the Qiankun Sect after surviving conflict with the Dao Court.
Hunyuan Dao Emperor	733	Achieves the realm after five hundred thousand years of focused cultivation without sparring.
Dao Treasury Carefree Immortal	757	His Sword Intent is strong enough to challenge cultivators of the same realm.
Luo Heaven Carefree Immortal	856	Continues roaming and settling grievances while pursuing greater strength.
Saint	1107	Appears in a future era among Saints, but still considers himself weaker than many present.

Background

Li Ya is a member of the Great Cang Dynasty’s royal family and holds the Immortal rank despite beginning as a chore disciple in Medicine Valley. His royal status initially makes Gu An wary of provoking him. 2

He was once regarded as useless, but a fortuitous encounter transformed his cultivation speed. By the time his name reaches the Outer Sect, he is competing with an older brother for power under a life-or-death duel pact. 11

During his early cultivation, Li Ya carries the soul of a Li Family Old Ancestor within him. The Old Ancestor provides advice and warnings, but Li Ya repeatedly places himself in lethal situations while seeking strength and the restoration of his family’s glory. 28 98 106

Appearance

Li Ya is most often depicted as a black-clad swordsman with a cold, imposing bearing. Years of travel and combat give him an increasingly weathered, austere presence. 21 573 654

• Black robes and a sword at his waist or on his back are his customary appearance. 21 654
• Carries a “cold, arrogant swordsman” aura after returning from the Outer Sect. 21
• Often trains bare-chested, displaying a powerful physique strengthened by the Dragon-Elephant Divine Origin. 106
• Later appears with stubble, casually tied hair, and the air of a wandering martial hero rather than a conventional immortal cultivator. 573

Personality

Li Ya begins as proud, distant, and conscious of his royal background. Although he initially looks down on Medicine Valley, Gu An’s unreserved kindness leaves him ashamed of that attitude and turns the valley into a place where he feels secure. 2 21

He is intensely competitive and easily driven by humiliation. Defeats by Xu Ruye, An Hao, Zhang Buku, and stronger cultivators repeatedly push him back toward harsh cultivation rather than surrender. 30 130 196 866

Despite his pride, Li Ya is deeply loyal to those he accepts. He gives Gu An the Li Family Seven Swords before leaving, teaches swordplay to the younger Medicine Valley disciples, and later protects and mentors Li Xianyou. 6 23 733

Over time, he becomes more cautious and mature. After suffering betrayal and being hunted by the Dao Court, he rejects provocation from the Divine Wonder Immortal Spirit, stating that he is no longer the hot-blooded cultivator he once was. 654

His later path shifts from personal fame to ideals. Witnessing the suffering caused by immortals, gods, and demons leads him to care for orphaned children, gather disciples, and seek a doctrine capable of protecting more people. 862 889 934

Abilities & Skills

Sword Dao

Li Ya’s primary path is the sword. His Sword Intent eventually becomes renowned across the Heavenly Spirit Great World and remains formidable even against cultivators at the same immortal realm. 130 733 757

• Uses the Li Family Nine Astonishing Swords during the battle against Xu Ruye and Chan Ji. 27
• Receives the Great Vast God-Startling Sword from Gu An, acting as the Li Family Progenitor, and trains with guidance embedded in the North Sea Heavy Sword. 99 106
• Reveals Sword Intent associated with Sword Venerable Fudao during his duel with An Hao. 130
• Attempts to master the Nine Absolutes Sacred Heart Sword, enduring painful illusions and trials under Grandmaster Sword Destroyer. 520
• Gains the title of Number One Under Heaven Sword Cultivator after displaying a Sword Dao powerful enough to shake the world while saving Li Xianyou. 733

Dragon-Elephant Divine Origin

Li Ya refines the Dragon-Elephant Divine Origin into his body, greatly enhancing his physical strength. 106

• His physical body fully merges with the divine origin. 106
• His raw strength rivals that of a fourth-tier demonic beast. 106
• He considers the treasure a key advantage after being humiliated despite his Golden Core cultivation. 123

Divine Wonder City

Li Ya gains control of Divine Wonder City, an Immortal Dao Supreme Treasure accompanied by the Divine Wonder Immortal Spirit. 225

• Can summon Divine Wonder City, attracting widespread attention upon his return to Third Medicine Valley. 472
• Uses the city in battle while confronting enemies such as Zhao Xuehe. 428
• The treasure substantially raises his combat standing, though he later seeks to prove himself without relying solely on it. 242 473

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• North Sea Heavy Sword — Li Ya’s signature heavy sword; it contains Sword Intent placed within it to guide his Great Vast God-Startling Sword cultivation. 106 130
• Divine Wonder City — Immortal Dao Supreme Treasure under his control. 225
• Divine Wonder Immortal Spirit — The city’s spirit; serves as a companion, critic, and confidant. 225 654
• Li Family Seven Swords manual — A royal Li Family sword manual he gifts to Gu An before departing Medicine Valley. 6
• Nine Absolutes Sacred Heart Sword — A powerful sword inheritance whose acknowledgment subjects him to severe trials. 520

Relationships

• Gu An — His first genuine friend from Medicine Valley and the person he calls Junior Brother Gu. Gu An repeatedly protects, guides, and quietly supports Li Ya’s growth, including teaching him the Great Vast God-Startling Sword. 6 99 385
• Li Xuanyu — His elder sister and fellow Great Cang royal. They fight together against demonic cultivators and later reunite to compare their very different cultivation journeys. 28 655
• Li Family Old Ancestor — A soul residing within Li Ya who advises him in danger, though Li Ya eventually outgrows reliance on the Old Ancestor’s guidance. 28 98
• Divine Wonder Immortal Spirit — His treasure spirit companion; regularly mocks his pride but remains concerned about him. 334 654
• Zhang Buku — A close companion and sparring partner. Zhang calls himself Li Ya’s brother, and the two face dangers in the Land of Demons and Monsters together. 196 198 242
• An Hao / Tian Hao — A major rival. An Hao defeats Li Ya in their early duel, and their rivalry continues to motivate Li Ya’s cultivation. 130 385
• Li Xianyou — His disciple. Li Ya is prepared to intervene when powerful clans hunt Li Xianyou, and his rescue establishes Li Ya’s supreme reputation as a sword cultivator. 733 735
• Li Xuanmiao — His son, whose rapid advancement and strength later make Li Ya confront the limits of his own achievements. 736 792
• Zuo Yijian — An old friend from the Taixuan Sect era. Their reunion after millions of years leaves both men impressed and unsettled by the other’s Sword Dao. 736

Story Role / Major Arcs

Medicine Valley and the Outer Sect

Li Ya spends his early years with Gu An and Meng Lang in Medicine Valley. Before leaving for the Outer Sect, he gives Gu An the Li Family Seven Swords and sincerely urges him not to let Meng Lang push him around. 6

He later returns badly injured after facing demons on Outer Sect missions. Gu An gives him an Azure Vine Fruit without demanding payment, an act that permanently deepens Li Ya’s gratitude and sense of belonging to Medicine Valley. 21

Early Battles and Sword Inheritance

Li Ya and Li Xuanyu are nearly overwhelmed by Xu Ruye and Chan Ji of the Ten Thousand Yin Sect. An unseen Gu An kills both enemies with flying leaves, leaving Li Ya awed by the distant attacker’s Sword Dao. 27 28

After further setbacks, Gu An secretly guides him under the identity of the Li Family Progenitor and passes on the Great Vast God-Startling Sword. 98 99

Li Ya’s duel with An Hao publicizes his inheritance of Sword Venerable Fudao’s Sword Intent, but An Hao defeats him and leaves him severely injured. 130

Divine Wonder City and Wandering Fame

Li Ya acquires Divine Wonder City and travels with Zhang Buku, gaining a reputation through repeated conflicts and expeditions. 196 225

He becomes known far beyond the Heavenly Spirit Great World for wielding the Nine Absolutes Sacred Heart Sword and for his enmity with the Holy Son of Yaoguang Sacred Sect. 558 560

Dao Court, Ideals, and Immortality

Li Ya attempts to ally with the Dao Court, only to be betrayed, targeted for his body, and declared a wanted criminal. He abandons the organization and turns instead toward his own path. 654

After seeing widespread suffering he cannot solve through individual rescues, he begins caring for displaced children and considers uniting like-minded Great Dao Emperor Lords behind a broader ideal. 862

The White-Headed Immortal Ancestor confirms that Li Ya’s accumulated merit and planned orthodoxy qualify him for immortality, provided he continues teaching, walking the world, and building merit. 934

First Merit Immortal

Li Ya leads a million disciples to seek aid from the Heavenly Court and continues refining his Dao of walking the world rather than focusing solely on the Sword Dao. 889

He becomes the first Merit Immortal, giving his followers proof that their ideals can reach the Heavenly Court. His outspoken criticism of the Immortal Gods, however, immediately makes him controversial there. 956 957

Dissatisfied with being unable to enact meaningful change from within the Heavenly Court, he grows increasingly weary of its constraints and considers returning to teach his disciples in Zhongtian. 979

Later Legacy

Li Ya reaches Hunyuan Dao Emperor and becomes the acknowledged Number One Under Heaven Sword Cultivator and Great Cultivator of the Heavenly Spirit Great World. 733

Even after these achievements, he continues confronting stronger figures, reassessing his Dao Heart, and striving for immortality and greater influence. 736 793 1074

In the future, he appears among Saints and retains his determination to cultivate despite recognizing that Tian Hao and other Saints remain stronger than him. 1107