Laozi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Laozi (老子)
Alias(es)	Taishang Laozi; Heavenly Lord of Morality; Grand Supreme Saint; Eldest Brother / Eldest Uncle
Species/Race	Saint; one of the Three Pure Ones
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Human Sect (former leader); Eight Sceneries Palace; later joint leader of Daoism
Occupation/Role	Former Teacher of the Human Race; alchemist; head of the Three Pure Ones; Saint strategist
First Appearance	Chapter 20

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Superficial understanding of the Way of Non-Action	316	Merges his personal Dao with the Taiji Diagram to temporarily withstand the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.
Directed cultivation toward completion	366	Hongjun identifies the incomplete Way of Non-Action as Laozi's chief weakness and arranges for him to refine it in Zixiao Palace.
Post-seclusion advancement	370	Returns from Chaos Space with an aura undetectable even to the other Saints.
Manifestation as a Law Great Dao	380	Channels boundless Yin-Yang Qi through the Taiji Diagram, producing a Great Dao whose presence pressures all beings to submit.
Further breakthrough	450	Breaks through to a new realm of the Way of Non-Action during battle, empowering the Primordial Sky-Slaying Sword and Heaven and Earth Exquisite Pagoda.

Background / History

Laozi is the eldest of the Three Pure Ones and originally shared Kunlun Mountain with Tongtian. After the brothers split, Tongtian relocated the Sect of Interception to Golden Ao Island, while Laozi moved the Human Sect to Shouyang Mountain and established the Eight Sceneries Palace. The Sect of Enlightenment subsequently occupied Kunlun Mountain under Yuanshi's control. 20

At the Eight Sceneries Palace, Laozi maintained the Eight Trigrams Furnace and refined Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs. His elixirs were regarded as a major reason his cultivation exceeded that of the other Saints, despite Tongtian being considered stronger in direct combat. 20 108

He founded the Human Sect, taught humans alchemy and cultivation, and gained Merit and Fortune through the Human Race. Di Xin later argued publicly that these teachings had primarily served Laozi's path to Sainthood rather than the welfare of humanity; Laozi internally recognized the substance of that accusation but would not admit it openly. 247 248

Appearance

Laozi is depicted as an elderly man in white, with an imposing but restrained presence befitting the eldest of the Three Pure Ones. 63

• White clothing and white hair. 63 517
• Usually sits cross-legged on a Pure Meditation Cushion while calculating heavenly secrets or cultivating. 20 108
• His post-seclusion state can conceal his aura even from other Saints. 370

Personality

Laozi is initially defined by composure, patience, and calculation. When Yuanshi arrives at Shouyang Mountain enraged by Tongtian, Laozi remains calm, rebukes his brother's loss of bearing, and stresses that calamities cannot be fully predicted or controlled. 20

His outward practice of non-action contrasts with a highly pragmatic pursuit of Merit, Fortune, and political advantage. He repeatedly forms alliances, bargains with treasures, and adapts his plans when circumstances change. He is particularly unwilling to relinquish resources needed for alchemy, though Qin Hong repeatedly exploits Laozi's affection for him to obtain elixirs and treasures. 108 109 329

Laozi is protective of his only direct disciple, Xuandu. Qin Hong's capture of Xuandu ultimately forces Laozi to surrender the Taiji Diagram despite his fear that it could help recreate the Primordial Axe. 414 440

Abilities & Skills

Way of Non-Action

Laozi's self-created Dao is the foundation of his later power. It manifests through Yin-Yang energy and law power, allowing him to establish an oppressive Great Dao over the battlefield. 316 380

• Can merge with the Taiji Diagram to create a powerful defensive field. 316
• Following Hongjun's guidance, enables Laozi to conceal his aura from divine senses. 366 370
• Can contend with Tongtian's Sword Dao for a time, though it is ultimately overwhelmed when the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is enhanced by the Laws of Space and Time. 381
• Its earlier incomplete state could not decisively overcome Tongtian or break the defense of the thirty-six-petal Creation Green Lotus. 316 383

Alchemy

Laozi is a master refiner of Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs, using the Eight Trigrams Furnace at the Eight Sceneries Palace. 20 38

• Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs can enable an uncultivated being to become immortal and can cleanse impurities and rapidly improve a cultivator's cultivation. 38
• He sought the Witch Clan's spiritual herbs specifically because they could be refined into further elixirs. 108
• Uses the elixirs in large quantities to recover from severe injuries and stabilize declining cultivation. 251 323

Saintly Combat and Spatial Travel

As a Saint, Laozi can traverse chaos, tear through space, and engage in battles that threaten the Primordial Era itself. 2 353

• Uses the Taiji Diagram, Heaven and Earth Exquisite Pagoda, and Primordial Sky-Slaying Sword in combat. 316 443
• Can open spatial passages to retreat or relocate allied Saints. 353 370
• Was unable to escape when Qin Hong and Tongtian sealed space and time around him with the Universe Brush and Time Reversal Brush. 383

Strategy and Sect Politics

Laozi routinely leads negotiations and long-term planning among allied Saints.

• Advises Yuanshi to show weakness and buy time rather than confront Tongtian directly. 324
• Swears to share the Human Race's Fortune with the Western Sect in exchange for cooperation against the Sect of Interception. 329
• Later proposes merging the Human Sect's surviving doctrine with the Sect of Enlightenment to establish Daoism against Buddhism's expansion eastward. 478 486

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Taiji Diagram — A heaven-opening supreme treasure used for defense, Yin-Yang attacks, and absorption of rampaging power; surrendered to Qin Hong in exchange for Xuandu's release. 63 380 440
• Heaven and Earth Exquisite Pagoda of Yellow and Mysterious Light — Defensive treasure used alongside the Taiji Diagram. 316 450
• Primordial Sky-Slaying Sword — Chaos-level sword used to channel the Way of Non-Action; cracks when Laozi forces excessive power into it against Tongtian. 443 517
• Eight Trigrams Furnace — Furnace at the Eight Sceneries Palace used to refine Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs. 20 38
• Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs — Precious alchemical pills Laozi hoards, refines, gifts under pressure, and consumes for recovery. 109 323
• Pure Meditation Cushion — His usual seat for cultivation, calculation, and recovery. 20 251
• Banana Leaf Fan — An Innate Spirit Treasure given to Zhunti as compensation during negotiations with the Western Sect. 329

Relationships

• Sect Master Tongtian — Younger brother and fellow member of the Three Pure Ones. Their relationship deteriorates from familial mediation into open conflict over the Sect of Interception, the Human Race, and the Heavenly Dao. 63 380 517
• Heavenly Lord of Original Beginning (Yuanshi) — Younger brother and frequent political ally. Laozi counsels, scolds, and shields Yuanshi while cooperating with him against Di Xin, Tongtian, and Buddhism. 20 233 478
• Qin Hong — Nephew and Tongtian's son. Laozi is repeatedly manipulated by Qin Hong for elixirs and treasures, but remains vulnerable to threats against Xuandu. 109 414 440
• Xuandu — Laozi's only direct disciple. Laozi values Xuandu's safety enough to hand over the Taiji Diagram to Qin Hong. 439 440
• Nuwa — Initially Laozi's ally in plans concerning the Human Race; he becomes disillusioned with her actions and later considers using her against Houtu. 116 141 323
• Di Xin — Human Emperor who publicly challenges Laozi's merit, abolishes the Human Sect, and strips him of the title of Teacher of the Human Race. 247 249 251
• Zhenyuanzi — Becomes the new Teacher of Humanity after Laozi's connection to the Human Race is severed; Laozi threatens him but cannot act without risking severe karmic backlash. 269
• Zhunti and Jieyin — Uneasy Western allies. Laozi bargains with them, shares concessions, and later seeks to restrain Buddhism's expansion into the East. 329 478
• Hongjun — Laozi's master, who directs him to perfect the Way of Non-Action in preparation for renewed conflict with Tongtian. 366

Story Role / Major Arcs

Investiture of the Gods Calamity

Laozi acts as a moderating but self-interested force among the Saints. He initially urges Yuanshi not to panic over Tongtian's actions, reasoning that the Sect of Interception's prosperity makes it a likely target of the coming Calamity. 20

He later joins Yuanshi in plotting against Di Xin and the Human Race after losing confidence in Nuwa's reliability. 141

Conflict with the Human Race

Di Xin publicly questions Laozi's worthiness to lead the Human Sect, accusing him of using humanity's Merit and Fortune to prove his Dao while ignoring human suffering. 247 248

After Di Xin declares the Human Sect abolished, the Heavenly Dao revokes Laozi's title as Master of the Human Race. The severance of this karmic bond causes his cultivation to plummet until he arrests the decline by consuming Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs. 251

Zhenyuanzi subsequently becomes the Teacher of Humanity and a Saint, preventing Laozi from reclaiming his former position through force. 269

War with Tongtian and Qin Hong

Laozi repeatedly fights Tongtian's Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, first relying on the Taiji Diagram and a superficial understanding of the Way of Non-Action to survive. 316

After refining the Way of Non-Action under Hongjun's guidance, he returns confident that he can suppress Tongtian. Their battle instead becomes a prolonged clash between Laozi's Dao and Tongtian's greatly strengthened Sword Dao. 370 380 381

Cornered at Shouyang Mountain, Laozi activates its mountain-protecting formation and attempts to negotiate with Tongtian by offering treasures to Qin Hong. 355 He later self-destructs alongside Shouyang Mountain's spiritual veins in an attempt to kill Tongtian and Qin Hong, only to learn they survived through the protection of the thirty-six-petal Creation Green Lotus. 365 357

Daoism and the Journey to the West Calamity

Concerned that Buddhism's eastward expansion will erode the territory and influence of the Three Pure Ones, Laozi abandons the idea of restoring the abolished Human Sect. 478

Instead, he plans to merge the Human Sect and Sect of Enlightenment into Daoism, with himself and Yuanshi as supreme leaders. Xuandu is tasked with making the initial arrangements, while Yuanshi's disciples are sent to spread Daoist teachings in the human realm. 478 486

Laozi also intends to obstruct the pilgrimage that would enable Buddhism to spread scriptures eastward. 497

Final Confrontation

When Tongtian kills Yuanshi, Laozi grieves for his younger brother but accepts that reconciliation between the Three Pure Ones is no longer possible. He resolves to continue the path he chose, even if it ends in the death of either himself or Tongtian. 517

Notable Quotes

“The Calamity is of great importance. At that time, the heavenly secrets will be obscured, and even Saints will be unable to peer into them.” 20

“Tongtian, I cannot say you are wrong, nor can I say our teacher is wrong! But I have already embarked on this path. The road is easy to choose, but it is not easy to walk. Since I chose my path from the beginning, I must walk it to the end today!” 517