Ling Wu

Biodata

Background and History

A thousand years before the events surrounding his return, Ling Wu gave his life to seal the Abyss Passage. His soul survived through a branch of the Golden Tree, though he could not remain outside it indefinitely 7 166.

When damage to the seal prompted Liu Lin to summon him, Ling Wu emerged as a soul body and sealed the passage again with his Book of the Dead and Sealing Magic Array. He then sought his descendant Ling Ren, the current bearer of the Book of the Dead martial soul 166.

The branch’s remaining life energy was nearly exhausted. Rather than risk dissipating, Ling Wu offered to fuse the branch with Ling Qing’s Scythe of Severance and make himself its weapon spirit. Ling Qing accepted; the fusion transformed the weapon into the Scythe of Judgment while preserving Ling Wu’s consciousness and memories 7 8.

Appearance

Ling Wu appears as an old man in white robes. As his soul power wanes, his figure grows faint and translucent 150 166.

• Distinguishing features: A graying beard and, during the sealing, white robes that flutter as he floats above the Abyss Passage 166 192.
• Soul form: He can appear as a smoky figure in Ling Qing’s Sea of Consciousness or emerge from the Scythe of Judgment as a white figure 18 217.

Personality

Ling Wu is protective of both his descendant and Ling Qing. He asks Ling Qing to help Ling Ren if the latter faces difficulties, and he intervenes when Ling Qing’s unstable energy vortex threatens him 135 150. He also enjoys showing off his knowledge: Ling Qing’s answers about Spirit Cores visibly frustrate his attempt to quiz him 43.

Abilities & Skills

Book of the Dead and sealing

Ling Wu uses his Book of the Dead to produce golden runes and cast the Sealing Magic Array 166.

• Reseals the damaged Abyss Passage, though doing so considerably weakens his soul body 166.
• The Book of the Dead gains a trace of the Golden Tree’s holy aura. After their fusion, the Scythe of Judgment can purify evil and negative energy 18 119.

Spiritual detection

• Scouts Spirit Beasts for Ling Qing in the Star Dou Great Forest; his detection range exceeds Ling Qing’s 82.
• Detects approaching people and warns Ling Qing when he cannot discern an intruder’s strength 149 184.

Cultivation guidance

• Stabilizes Ling Qing’s runaway energy vortex and identifies it as the rudimentary form of a Spirit Core, not a completed one 43 135.
• Explains gaseous, liquid, and solid Soul Power, and advises Ling Qing to strengthen his body, Mental Power, and Soul Power rather than force the vortex’s development 43 150.
• His explanation of Soul Power conversion helps Liu Lin break through to level seventy-nine 150.

Weapon-spirit support

• Senses black mist attached to the Scythe of Judgment during Ling Qing’s fight with Kong Weiyang and warns him without alerting their opponent 122.
• Calms Ling Qing during the fight and urges him not to panic 45.
• Warns Ling Qing that twin martial souls can reject one another when a soul ring is attached to the second martial soul, but admits he does not know a solution 192 217.

Relationships

• Ling Ren — Ling Wu’s descendant and the current bearer of the Book of the Dead; Ling Wu asks Ling Qing to help him if he encounters difficulties 150 166.
• Ling Qing — Recipient of Ling Wu’s Golden Tree branch and host of his weapon-spirit form. Ling Wu tests his resilience, guides his cultivation, and assists him in combat 7 122 135 164.
• Liu Lin — Summons Ling Wu through the Golden Tree branch and gains insight from his cultivation guidance 150 166.
• Liu Haoyang — Ling Wu’s friend from a thousand years earlier and Liu Lin’s ancestor 166.