Xuan Aotian

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xuan Aotian (玄傲天)
Alias(es)	Destined Protagonist of Heartless Evil Emperor; Xuan Clan's discarded son
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Formerly the Hidden Ancient Clan Xuan Family; severed ties with the clan
Occupation/Role	Heavenly Arena deathmatch combatant; claimant to a Crimson Meteor Burial Ground qualification
Status	Deceased; killed by Xuan Ning after being defeated and stripped of his powers 49 50
First Appearance	Mentioned 28; appears at the Heavenly Arena 33

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ascension Realm	38	Spectators state that he was still at the Ascension Realm one year before his arena matches.
Undying Realm, Second Layer	33	Broke through during his series of Heavenly Arena deathmatches, shortly before pursuing his final five victories.

Background

Xuan Aotian was the legitimate eldest son of Xuan You, Clan Head of the Hidden Ancient Clan Xuan Family. Fifteen years before the events at the Heavenly Arena, Xuan You sent him to another Dao Domain to protect him during his struggle for the Clan Head position. After returning, Xuan Aotian's relationship with his father deteriorated, and he eventually severed ties with the Xuan Family 28.

He believed that his parents had abandoned him and favored his younger brother, Xuan Ning. Determined to succeed without clan support, he entered the Heavenly Arena's Hundred Deathmatches to earn a Qualification Token for the Crimson Meteor Burial Ground 33. In reality, Xuan You continued to protect him and secretly resolved the problems he caused after leaving the clan 50.

Appearance

Xuan Aotian is a tall, straight-backed young man with shoulder-length black hair, a handsome but rugged face, and a cold, blade-like bearing 33 34.

• Often wears black clothing in the arena. 34
• Has sharp, icy features and a chiseled face. 33 34
• His presence is compared to an unsheathed sword once he enters combat. 34

Personality

Xuan Aotian is cold, indifferent, ruthless, and fiercely independent. He refuses to accept help from the Xuan Family, interpreting his father's protection and Xuan Ning's upbringing as proof that he was unwanted 33 38.

His resentment toward his family makes him especially hostile to comparisons with Xuan Ning. After repeated defeats and losses, he becomes increasingly desperate and violent, embracing the Black Ancient Scripture's corruptive power even when it threatens everyone around him 38 41 47.

After learning that Xuan You had protected him throughout his life and sacrificed himself while begging others to spare him, Xuan Aotian finally recognizes his misunderstanding and asks Xuan Ning to kill him 50.

Abilities & Skills

Sky Dome Sword Body

Xuan Aotian possesses the Sky Dome Sword Body, ranked twenty-fourth among known constitutions 28.

• Grants powerful sword intent in every movement and technique. 36
• Makes him exceptionally dangerous offensively as a sword cultivator. 36
• His physical body is comparatively less resilient, making direct attacks from powerful opponents a weakness. 36
• Its origin was taken by Su Chenxiao after Xuan Aotian lost control of the Black Ancient Scripture's power. 49

Heartless Sword Scripture and Heartless Great Dao

His primary sword cultivation is the Heartless Sword Scripture, which manifests the Heartless Great Dao and vast quantities of cold, emotionless sword qi 34 36 39.

• Can form thousands of True Qi swords in the air. 36
• Produces highly destructive sword qi capable of overwhelming powerful opponents. 36
• Reflects his detached, hostile fighting style. 39

Heaven Slaying Sword Art

A sword art wielded through the damaged Immortal Slaughtering Sword 34 35.

• Human Nether — used to cut through the Flame Hell Ghost Flood Dragon's fire domain. 35
• Tian Ming — used against Xuan Ning's Yin Yang Ancient Arts. 39

Nameless Sword Art

An incomplete sword art inherited from his mother's lineage 34 36.

• Allows him to condense True Qi into swords even without a physical weapon. 36
• Its manifested sword qi is stated to rival the power of a magical artifact. 36
• Used to kill the Flame Hell Ghost Flood Dragon after his initial sword strike failed. 36
• Its possession deepened Xuan Ning's resentment, as Xuan Ning believed their father had favored Xuan Aotian with their mother's inheritance. 36

Black Ancient Scripture

A forbidden Dark Era scripture and Xuan Aotian's final trump card. Its power is channeled through Chi Ming, a corrupted slave spirit attached to the scripture 39 48.

• Releases ominous energy that erodes formations, divine abilities, and living beings. 41
• Created the Sky Curtain, preventing people in the Heavenly Arena from escaping through teleportation. 41
• Can mutate and drive affected cultivators mad, allowing Xuan Aotian to use them as pawns. 47
• Its power corrupted Xuan Aotian's body after Chi Ming was devoured. 49
• The scripture was seized by Su Chenxiao after the Death Soul Beast consumed Chi Ming. 49 50

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram — A sword formation diagram with four sword slots that releases pervasive Immortal Slaughtering Sword qi; taken by Su Chenxiao after Xuan Ning broke the formation. 34 40 41
• Immortal Slaughtering Sword — A damaged Imperial Weapon and one of the Tongtian Immortal Swords; used with the Heaven Slaying Sword Art before being taken by Su Chenxiao. 34 35 40 41
• Black Ancient Scripture — Forbidden Dark Era scripture empowered by the slave spirit Chi Ming; later seized by Su Chenxiao. 41 48 49
• Unwarranted Star Chart — A listed magic treasure in his possession. 34

Relationships

• Xuan You — Father and Xuan Family Clan Head. Xuan Aotian believed Xuan You had abandoned him, but Xuan You secretly protected him and ultimately sacrificed himself while asking others to spare Xuan Aotian's life. 28 45 50
• Xuan Ning — Younger brother and bitter rival. Their conflict culminated in a deathmatch, and Xuan Ning eventually killed Xuan Aotian after revealing the truth about their father. 39 40 50
• Su Chenxiao — Primary antagonist. Su Chenxiao manipulated events around Xuan Aotian, took his Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram and sword, neutralized his final reliance, and harvested his Sky Dome Sword Body origin. 35 41 48 49
• Chi Ming — Slave spirit of the Black Ancient Scripture. Chi Ming fueled Xuan Aotian's Dark Era power while encouraging his anger and isolation, but was devoured by Su Chenxiao's Death Soul Beast. 46 48 49
• Liu Zishan — Heavenly Arena owner who initially intended to support Xuan Aotian, then abandoned that plan after meeting Su Chenxiao. 33
• Qi Ao — Ancient Clan prodigy who mocked Xuan Aotian at the Heavenly Arena; Xuan Aotian later killed him and seized his Qualification Token. 38 43

Story Role / Major Arcs

Heavenly Arena Deathmatches

Seeking a Crimson Meteor Burial Ground Qualification Token, Xuan Aotian enters the Heavenly Arena and reaches ninety-five consecutive victories. He breaks through to the Second Layer of the Undying Realm and vows to complete his Hundred Deathmatch Victories 33.

His next opponent is a Flame Hell Ghost Flood Dragon at the ninth layer of the Undying Realm. After being severely injured when his first strike fails to kill it, he uses the Nameless Sword Art to finish the beast and secure his ninety-sixth victory 35 36.

Deathmatch with Xuan Ning

The arena combines Xuan Aotian's four remaining matches into one battle against Xuan Ning, turning their rivalry into a deathmatch 38. Xuan Aotian deploys the Heartless Great Dao, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword, the Nameless Sword Art, and the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram, but Xuan Ning breaks through the formation after raising his cultivation with a Rage Yuan Pill 39 40.

Driven into desperation, Xuan Aotian reveals the Black Ancient Scripture. Its corruption threatens the entire arena, exposing him as a wielder of a Dark Era artifact and prompting Elder Qing to intervene 41 42.

Fugitive of the Hidden Ancient Clans

After escaping, Xuan Aotian kills Qi Ao and several other Ancient Clan members to steal their Qualification Tokens. His actions bring the Hidden Ancient Clans against the Xuan Family, and Xuan You sacrifices himself to protect the clan and plead for Xuan Aotian's life 43 45.

Learning of his father's death, Xuan Aotian descends further into grief and madness. He murders pursuing cultivators, rejects his remaining family ties, and vows that no one will control him again 46.

Final Defeat and Death

When the Ancient Clans locate him at the opening of the Crimson Meteor Burial Ground, Xuan Aotian uses Chi Ming and the Black Ancient Scripture to resist four Saint Realm Clan Heads. The scripture's power mutates cultivators and turns them against the Clan Heads 47.

Su Chenxiao confronts him directly. The Death Soul Beast devours Chi Ming, leaving Xuan Aotian without the Black Ancient Scripture's power. His body then mutates from the residual ominous energy, while Su Chenxiao takes his Sky Dome Sword Body origin and the Black Ancient Scripture 48 49.

Xuan Ning shows him Xuan You's final message and reveals the extent of their father's love and protection. Overcome with regret, Xuan Aotian asks Xuan Ning to kill him; Xuan Ning complies 50.

Notable Quotes

“I, Xuan Aotian, have never needed anyone since I was a child!” 33

“All of this is what he owes me, Xuan Aotian!” 46

“Kill me, Xuan Ning.” 50