Li Qi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Qi (李启)
Alias(es)	Xia Li Qi, his name during a reincarnation tribulation 1026
Species/Race	Human; descended from the Zhu lineage, which split from the Chong and Li clans 798
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Wushen Mountain; Imperial Academy; Executioner Squad 232 249 647
Occupation/Role	Spirit Medium of the Earthly Deity lineage; shamanic cultivator; former Imperial Academy student 139 686
Status	Active during the final confrontation with the Heavenly Demon 1078
First Appearance	Chapter 6: “Sneak Attack” 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ox-Strength Technique completed	6	Its Divine Will Inheritance progress reaches 100%; Li Qi also sees his Ritual Enhancement at 92%.
Earthly Deity Shaman of Wushen Mountain	30	Young Master Zhu transmits the proper Myriad Beast Technique cultivation method through Divine Will Inheritance, preventing the Ox-Strength Technique from draining Li Qi to death.
First external Qi / Blessing path	36	Completes a Heavenly God sacrifice and gains Great Forest Wood Qi, restoring his primal Qi and allowing him to perceive surrounding Qi.
Ninth Rank	156	By this point, his cultivation has reached Ninth Rank; Ox-Strength Technique grants a sudden increase of roughly six thousand jin of strength.
Eighth Rank	227	A grand sacrifice establishes his complete inner-world framework and eleven summonable Inner Gods, raising him far above his former Ninth-Rank self.
Peak Eighth Rank	238	Protected by six Great Shamans, he uses the Grand Sacrifice method and rapidly reaches the peak of the rank.
Seventh Rank	585	Li Qi later recalls his first Seventh-Rank breakthrough, when he comprehended “Creation from Nothing.”
Sixth-Rank Dao Foundation	495	Old Ma and Monk Jingmo’s Buddhist Qi alter his Sixth-Rank foundation, preventing his fall into the demonic path.
Fifth Rank	628	Uses his accumulated knowledge of world barriers to distort and map an entire world onto his inner world, drawing in enormous quantities of Qi.
Fourth Rank	703	Returns to Guanghan as a newly promoted Fourth-Rank cultivator.
Third Rank	871	Reaches the level at which he can fully control his expanded True Knowledge and travel through the Desire Realm as a great power.
Second Rank	978	Becomes a legendary Second-Rank cultivator before shattering into fragments and entering reincarnation.
Re-cultivation: Ninth Rank to Seventh Rank	1029 1030	After destroying his Martial Way cultivation and restoring the Shamanic Way, he rapidly recovers from Ninth to Seventh Rank.
First Rank	1077 1078	Achieves Dao through the Polaris reference frame and confronts the Heavenly Demon in the final First-Rank conflict.

Background

Li Qi’s origins are initially obscure. Lu Shan claims that Li Qi appeared in Li Prefecture three years earlier in strange clothes, physically weak and without a cultivation method, and speculates that his Three Innate Treasures had been shattered. Li Qi neither confirms nor denies the accusation. 12

He spent his early years in Li Prefecture as a boat-puller, then built the Wave-Pushing Gang’s foundation through the cultivation method he possessed. After killing Lu Shan, he chose to leave rather than expose his former companions to the danger posed by the incomplete Ox-Strength Technique. 27 432

Young Master Zhu accepted Li Qi as a disciple and gave him the complete cultivation method needed to become an Earthly Deity Shaman. Li Qi’s first request after earning the Great Diviner’s favor was not a treasure, but proof that he had successfully located Lady Luofu and had not failed his teacher’s assignment. 30 116

Appearance

Li Qi usually presents himself plainly: he wears ordinary cloth clothes, keeps his appearance unadorned, and can seem less striking beside more flamboyant cultivators. He is nevertheless considered handsome enough to meet the expectations placed upon a Spirit Medium, and his restrained, gentle demeanor often makes others underestimate him. 305 896 897

• Darker complexion and an otherwise ordinary-looking handsome face 305
• Typically wears practical, simple robes rather than elaborate magic treasures or ornaments 740
• Keeps a saber visible to encourage opponents to misread his fighting style 96
• Carries a willow branch at his waist, his more reliable hidden weapon 96 140
• His ritual dance is functional but notably awkward compared with that of trained shamanic officiants 472

Personality

Li Qi is cautious, practical, and difficult to intimidate. He treats danger seriously, gathers information before committing himself, and eliminates threats he judges likely to return—most notably Lu Shan after extracting the information he needed. 12

He remains polite even toward people of lower apparent status, but he does not compromise easily on principle. He refuses a proposed contest with his Wushen Mountain peers despite the pressure behind it, and his conduct earns respect rather than submission. 232 234

Li Qi’s pragmatism is balanced by loyalty. He worries about the people who learned the Ox-Strength Technique from him, carries burdens for companions such as Shen Shuibi and Old Ma, and becomes deeply devoted to his daughter after her birth. 30 90 531

Abilities & Skills

Shamanic Sacrifice and Qi Perception

Li Qi cultivates through the Shamanic Way’s Earthly Deity branch, obtaining and directing Qi through sacrifice, ritual, prayer, and communication with divine beings. His first Great Forest Wood Qi lets him perceive the distinct Qi of people, places, and phenomena. 36

• Can observe Water Qi, Yin Qi, sickness Qi, protective Qi, nutritive Qi, and other flows by applying Qi to his eyes. 36 38
• Initially maintains Qi-enhanced vision for roughly an hour before depletion. 36
• Conducts rituals to contact deities, including the spirit of the Lishui River and Qinghua Palace. 66 437
• Uses sacrificial knowledge to arrange complex altars and direct large ritual operations. 416

Inner World and Inner Gods

Li Qi’s body contains a cultivated inner world structured around Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, seasons, and divine offices. This world is the core of his endurance and large-scale sorcery. 486 676

• Summons eleven Inner Gods: the Five Peaks Mountain Gods, Four Rivers Water Gods, and Sun-Moon Heavenly Gods. 227
• Uses Inner Gods primarily to regulate his internal world, though each is individually dangerous in battle. 300
• Expands his inner world into a battlefield cage that suppresses opponents and excludes weaker bystanders. 677
• Sustains damage through the reserves of his inner world; exhausting it requires destroying him repeatedly rather than merely injuring his body. 676

True Knowledge Dao Charm

Li Qi’s defining talent is the True Knowledge Dao Charm, an analytical ability that interprets cultivation systems, magic treasures, techniques, attacks, and eventually thought processes. 238 584

• Analyzes spatial Dao charms and complex magic-treasure controls. 238 507
• Reads the structure of enemy attacks, including Chaos Qi and high-level Dao charms. 584 679
• Can examine another cultivator’s cultivation route, inner world, Dao charm, and thoughts with focused effort. 652
• Enables exceptionally rapid learning, though it does not replace the concentration and compatibility needed to operate magic treasures effectively. 497 507

Martial Way

Li Qi concurrently cultivates Martial Way methods, especially Wave-Pushing Strength and its complete form, Carp Flowing Intent. He relies on Martial Way for close combat while using shamanic knowledge to create openings. 56 57 150

• Wave-Pushing Strength / Carp Flowing Intent — provides explosive movement and the ability to interrupt an opponent’s actions at crucial moments. 57 150
• Ox-Strength Technique — borrows Qiong Niu’s divine Qi for tougher skin, abundant Yang energy, and immense physical power. 36
• The Ox-Strength Technique is limited to three uses per day; after he obtains external Qi, it lasts until his internal reserves are exhausted rather than for a fixed ten minutes. 36
• His Martial Way cultivation is later deliberately destroyed during reincarnation, allowing his Shamanic Way inner world to reassert itself. 1029

Curses, Karma, and Chosen Futures

Li Qi develops supernatural methods that influence causality, outcomes, and an opponent’s connection to the world. 156 677

• Uses his “Chen” power to erase an incoming Sixth-Rank strike from the river of time. 156
• Reverts the consequences of an enemy’s sword strike without rewinding the opponent’s accumulated effort. 677
• Manipulates karma as invisible threads that can bind an opponent beyond the reach of conventional swordsmanship. 677
• Uses curses and Dharma Forms to destroy enemy generals and armies across multiple battlefields. 647

Scholarship, Sorcery, and Command

Li Qi studies Qi, ancient texts, sorcery, military strategy, artifact refinement, and the methods of several Dao lineages. His breadth of knowledge is often more decisive than his spontaneous combat instincts. 38 266 320

• Defeats opponents in debates by turning ancient principles into functional sorcery. 266
• Cooperates with Liu Shenzhi on Witchcraft Silkworm research and adaptive magic treasures. 310 315
• Commands troops effectively during Military School simulations and later serves as an Executioner Squad combatant. 320 647
• Learns enough Daoist methods to pass as an Eighth-Rank Daoist to cultivators below Seventh Rank. 327

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Willow branch — Given by his teacher; contains Great Shaman Spirit Qi and serves as Li Qi’s reliable concealed weapon. 116 140
• Tang saber — A standardized Tang military weapon of unusually high quality, used both in combat and as misdirection. 96 140
• Ghost Chariot — A Yin-Yang travel treasure that can cross the Yellow Springs; Shen Shuibi primarily operates it after refining it. 497 507
• Protective wrapping cloth — A high-grade treasure from Great Shaman Yun Fang that conceals Li Qi from karmic investigation. 731
• Human Emperor Coffin — Taken after Li Qi survives Guo Zhitai’s use of the Human Emperor Sword. 1043
• True Knowledge Dao Charm — An innate Dao charm rather than a conventional item, but the central tool behind his analysis and accelerated learning. 238 584

Relationships

• Zhu Fengdan / Young Master Zhu — Li Qi’s teacher. Zhu Fengdan transmits the cultivation method that saves Li Qi from the Ox-Strength Technique’s fatal drain and later openly identifies him as his disciple. 30 246
• Shen Shuibi — Traveling companion, wife, and mother of Li Shiwei. She repeatedly treats Li Qi’s injuries, supports his cultivation, and helps him retain his identity through crises involving his spirit soul and demonic clone. 35 495 543 786
• Li Shiwei — His daughter with Shen Shuibi. Li Qi is openly doting yet generally allows her to choose her own path and gain experience independently. 531 703
• Old Ma — Dragon Steed companion. Li Qi prioritizes Old Ma’s health during travel, reunites warmly with him, and eventually sends him to the Outer Domain for a new beginning. 90 203 531
• Lady Luofu — Shen Shuibi’s mother and Li Qi’s mother-in-law. Their relationship is formal and affectionate, with Li Qi consistently observing strict etiquette before her. 566 703
• Great Shaman Yun Fang — A patient senior guide who helps Li Qi confront his inner demon and provides crucial protection and instruction. 227 731
• Liu Shenzhi — Imperial Academy classmate and artifact-refinement collaborator. Their shared Witchcraft Silkworm research reflects a practical friendship; Li Qi later finds Liu Shenzhi dead after the imperial conflict. 310 315 1043
• Liu Junyi — Intellectual and military rival from the Human Way. Their disputes begin with debates on Propriety and culminate in Li Qi defeating him during the Human-Shaman War. 267 268 657
• Demon Prince — A powerful rival whose defeat by Li Qi leaves him uniquely preoccupied with Li Qi’s growth and strength. 156 870
• Laqi — Li Qi’s disciple. Li Qi provides him with an origin, access to Wushen Mountain resources, and broad freedom to develop without excessive interference. 968 1045

Story Role / Major Arcs

Li Prefecture and the Road

Li Qi begins as an outsider surviving in Li Prefecture, defeats the Mighty Gang’s leader Lu Shan, and learns the first clues about the Three Innate Treasures and formal cultivation. He travels toward Feng County with the merchant A'Du, initially accepting companionship only as a practical safeguard against the dangers of the road. 12 15

Becoming a Shaman

Young Master Zhu reveals the danger of Li Qi’s incomplete Ox-Strength Technique and makes him an Earthly Deity Shaman. Li Qi gains Great Forest Wood Qi through sacrifice, begins to perceive Qi throughout the world, and becomes determined to understand the Dao beyond the limits of the Shamanic Way. 30 36 38

Clear Mist City

In Clear Mist City, Li Qi protects Piaoxu, investigates Jin Buhuan’s wealth and influence, and defeats him through a combination of ritual knowledge, elemental timing, Martial Way combat, and temporal manipulation. His victory reshuffles the city’s factions but leaves him gravely injured. 145 156 158

Imperial Academy and Chang’an

Li Qi enters the Tang Kingdom as an Imperial Academy student. He studies Human Way institutions, military strategy, artifact refinement, and ancient scholarship while challenging Tang scholars through debates that turn classical principles into sorcery. 249 266 320

Identity Crisis and the Demonic Clone

The Nexus of All Realms questions whether Li Qi is genuine or merely a Demonic Energy Clone, destabilizing his Dao heart. The clone later possesses him; Shen Shuibi, Old Ma, and Monk Jingmo prevent his descent into the demonic path, while the clone’s remaining True Knowledge merges into Li Qi’s Dao charm. 374 495

Wars and Advancement

Li Qi becomes a central force in the Human-Shaman War, serving with the Executioner Squad and using curses, Dharma Forms, and large-scale sorcery across multiple battlefields. He advances through Fifth, Fourth, and Third Rank while his strategic influence and reputation expand. 628 647 657 703 871

Reincarnation and Final Conflict

After reaching Second Rank, Li Qi shatters into fragments that reincarnate and struggle to become whole again. During a later reincarnation, he keeps the name Xia Li Qi to preserve his selfhood, rebuilds his Shamanic Way cultivation, achieves Dao through Polaris, and ultimately confronts the Heavenly Demon for his freedom. 978 1026 1030 1077 1078

Notable Quotes

“Mama, don't worry. When I grow up, I will definitely protect you!” 1026

“Change your appearance. This only makes me annoyed.” 330

Trivia

• Li Qi retains the surname Li despite his Zhu lineage because it represents his family connections and the karmic bond he shares with Li Shiwei. 798
• He initially has little aptitude for operating complex magic treasures, comparing himself to someone without a driver’s license, but learns to pilot the Ghost Chariot within an hour through True Knowledge-assisted study. 497 507
• Although he carries a saber constantly, he admits that its usual functions are closer to a fire poker, walking stick, and decoy than his true combat specialty. 96