Li Shiming

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Li Shiming (李士明)
Alias(es)	Li Shizhen
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ten Thousand Beasts Sect; formerly Shu Mountain Sect; Guest Alchemist of the Northern Shu Merchant Guild; Guest Elder of the Central Continent Merchant Guild
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Grandmaster Alchemist; Formation Master; Great Immortal Envoy
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 57

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Stage 3 Peak	96	Reaches a cultivation bottleneck and prepares to advance.
Qi Refining Stage 4	97	Breaks through with Yin Shilan's assistance and Spirit Tea.
Qi Refining Stage 6 Peak	145	Reaches the peak of the middle Qi Refining stage; his clone accelerates his cultivation.
Late-Stage Qi Refining	148	Breaks through the difficult Stage 6 bottleneck; his physical strength and speed rise sharply.
Qi Refining Stage 8	161	His Vajra Body Protection Divine Art can briefly endure area-of-effect spells.
Near Qi Refining Stage 9	163	His Five Elements Qi Absorption Art advances rapidly after Yun Xingyi alters his body and fuses a Sword Bone into his thumb.
Foundation Establishment	196	Has reached Foundation Establishment by the time he reunites with Yin Shilan.
Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage	234	Reaches mid-stage only two years after Foundation Establishment.
Foundation Establishment Late Stage	251	His Array Starlight Sea approaches the standard of a Formation Master.
Golden Core Stage	320	His Golden Core advancement permits stronger control of corpses, including a Silver Corpse.
Golden Core Middle Stage	381	Conceals his breakthrough with the Heavenly Dipper Four Aspects Array.
Golden Core Late Stage	450	Fills all five Golden Cores with spiritual power, giving him true late-stage battle power.
Nascent Soul Early Stage	539	Has advanced to Nascent Soul by the time he confronts Jin Kai.
Nascent Soul Middle Stage	727	Advances after three months of seclusion in the Heavenly Human Blessed Land.
Peak Great Cultivator	911	Recognized as a Peak Grandmaster Alchemist and Peak Great Cultivator.
Half-Step Great Power	992	His soul reaches the Half-Step Great Power level; he can barely unleash the Northern Dipper Formation Diagram's power.
Great Power	1013	Survives the Great Power heavenly tribulation; his body, spirit, and grotto-heavens are enhanced.
Late-Stage Great Power	1088	Advances after a century in a Blessed Land; Li Yuanba follows into the same realm.
Great Immortal Envoy	1101	Blessed Land cores evolve, allowing external manifestation of his Blessed Lands.

Background

Li Shiming was initially a Great Xia examination candidate whose Palace Examination essay impressed Emperor Jin Geng. The emperor considered naming him Number One Scholar, but withheld the honor after determining that Li was a cultivator unlikely to serve as an official 57.

He began as an ordinary Sky Ocean Sect disciple with a Triple Spiritual Root, a background many considered poorly suited to reaching Golden Core. His early fortunes—including body-refinement methods, Spiritual Sense, formation knowledge, and a close relationship with Yin Shilan—distinguished him from his peers 146 201.

Rather than joining the Thousand Illusions Sect, he crossed to the Northern Shu Continent and entered Shu Mountain Sect. There he became Elder Su's disciple and an Alchemy True Inheritor Disciple, laying the foundation for his rapid rise as an alchemist 250 272.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Li Shiming is an exceptional Grandmaster Alchemist whose output, quality, and success rate earn recognition across multiple continents.

• Mass-produces High Grade Spiritual Pills of his own alchemy grade, an achievement regarded as extraordinary among alchemists 249.
• Becomes the foremost Grandmaster Alchemist on the Northern Shu Continent, despite reaching that status only a few years after learning alchemy 291 366.
• Demonstrates Fourth Grade pill refinement before Golden Core cultivators and successfully refines the Fourth Grade Shu Mountain Mysterious Treasure Pill on his first attempt 265 450.
• Is recognized as Eastern Qi's number one Grandmaster Alchemist among Great Cultivators 593 594.
• Refines Fifth Grade High Grade Spiritual Pills with a stated 100% success rate 1061.
• Uses the IBMz15-assisted One in a Hundred Pill Division Art to obtain an unusually large share of refined pills 1039.

Formations

His formation talent develops from advanced practical skill into mastery capable of influencing high-level conflicts.

• Designs formations with IBMz15 calculations beyond entry-level formation-master standards and collaborates with Yin Shilan on a mobile formation 96.
• Realizes the Starry Sea, a prerequisite for advanced formations 129.
• Passes Shu Mountain Sect's assessment as an Intermediate Formation Master, receiving greater authority and access to sect knowledge 133.
• His Array Starlight Sea later approaches the Formation Master level 251.
• Easily breaks the Luan Phoenix Palace's entry trial formation, astonishing its Formation Master 847.
• At the Great Cultivator level, his formation proficiency is regarded as the strongest in the cultivation world 852.

IBMz15

Li Shiming's Natal Magical Treasure IBMz15 provides computational support for cultivation, combat, research, and crafting.

• Analyzes flaws in his Sword Control Art practice, accelerating his improvement 89.
• Assists with formation design, pill refinement, rule comprehension, and individualized cultivation plans 96 1010 1111.
• Records and analyzes inheritances, ancient texts, and Great Power battle footage 931 976 988.
• Enables him to cultivate and process insights through numerous brains simultaneously 642 910.
• Grows stronger after being nourished by Immortal Qi at the Great Immortal Envoy level 1111.

Sword Cultivation

Although not primarily a sword cultivator, Li Shiming possesses formidable Sword Intent and sword-based combat methods.

• Practices the Shu Mountain Sect's Sword Control Art with the Blazing Flame Sword 89.
• Gains Sword Intent through his connection with his clone, Li Yuanba 212.
• Develops Chaos Sword Intent nearly comparable to the Sword Intent Monument's sword intent 1039.
• Uses the Dust Severing Sword with Chaos Sword Intent; he believes it can instantly kill an ordinary inheritor Great Power 1039.
• Employs the Traceless Illusion Sword against Nascent Soul and Great Power-level opponents 590.

Thunder Arts

Li Shiming combines thunder cultivation with overwhelming spell volume and Heavenly Tribulation Lightning.

• Cultivates the Nine Heavens Thunder Strike Art, a Bright Heart Sect inheritance 201.
• Uses Thundercloud Spells, the Thunder Strike Spell, and the Sky Strike Thunder Hammer to defeat a Nascent Soul Middle Stage opponent while only at Nascent Soul Early Stage 590.
• Casts one hundred Falling Thunder Arts simultaneously to annihilate ten pursuing Great Cultivators, including two Peak Great Cultivators 904.
• Kills Great Power Wen Chao using one hundred Falling Thunder Arts after trapping him in a combined grand formation 1018.

Body Refinement and Defense

His physical durability is a defining advantage from the Qi Refining stage onward.

• At Late-Stage Qi Refining, can withstand a Superior-Grade Attack Magic Tool with his body alone 148.
• His Fierce-Eyed Vajra True Meaning Manifestation and Vajra Body Protection Divine Art support his breakthroughs and combat endurance 161.
• His Taiqing Mysterious Turtle Art makes his Great Elder body refinement unmatched in the Northern Shu Continent 459.
• Uses the Innate Yi Wood Divine Power for rapid recovery from severe injuries 846.
• Deploys 108 Eternal Life Water Bear Insects as defensive armor in an Earth Fiend Formation 992.

Divine Powers

• Invisible Yuan Magnetism — Acquired after completing the Stone Ring's second trial; can be enhanced through the Stone Ring and Jade Tokens. Li shares its rune with Li Yuanba 612.
• Innate Yi Wood — A wood-element Divine Power used for recovery and later to restore Eternal Life Water Bear Insects to peak condition 846 1009.
• Divine Eye Art — Allows detailed perception of approaching cultivators and energy flows; helps record Great Power-level battle data 797 976.
• Mind Penetration — At peak Great Cultivator level, can perceive emotions of peers, some thoughts of ordinary Great Cultivators, and directly perceive the thoughts of weaker cultivators 972.
• Space Movement — His spatial-rule mastery becomes unrivaled even among Great Power clones and supports mobility, offense, and defense 1019.

Equipment and Assets

• IBMz15 — Natal Magical Treasure and computational core 450.
• Spirit Turtle Shield — Entrusted to him by Yin Shilan after she completes its formation 97.
• Superior-Grade Metal Attribute Sword — Given by Elder Ren as compensation for the destroyed Azure Kite Wooden Sword 132.
• Flying Sword Magical Treasure — Gifted by Elder Zhao 244.
• Northern Dipper Formation Diagram — Supreme formation treasure capable of independently establishing formations once his soul reaches the required level 992.
• Five Elements Ring — Natal Spiritual Treasure that strengthens the Heavenly Human Art and projects Five Colors Divine Light at range 1053 1054.
• Sky Strike Thunder Hammer — Spiritual Treasure refined by Li Shiming and used in thunder-based combat 590 1054.
• Immortal Execution Sword — Spiritual Treasure refined by Li Shiming 1054.
• Space Piercing Spirit Wings — Spiritual Treasure refined by Li Shiming 1054.
• Teleportation Ring — Holds spatial energy and escape coordinates; its recovery significantly improves his strategic security 906 911.
• Azure Radiance Treasure Cauldron — Fourth Grade top-quality pill furnace claimed from the Great Power Palace 746.
• Wrath of the Dragon — Weapon created from military-grade Hell Aversion Crystal Essence 911.
• Jade Compass — Creates a region in which Space Movement is prohibited 824.

Relationships

• Yin Shilan — Dao companion and longtime partner. They collaborate on formations, exchange cultivation resources, reunite after long separation, and Li repeatedly assists her advancement 96 196 842 1023 1047.
• Li Yuanba — Clone and inseparable counterpart. They share Sword Intent, resources, experiences, cultivation insights, and major treasures 212 282 687 1088.
• Elder Su — Shu Mountain Sect master who supports Li Shiming's alchemy career and arranges his meeting with the Northern Shu Merchant Guild 235 237.
• Elder Ma — Shu Mountain Sect master who takes him as a nominal disciple and grants him Alchemy True Inheritor status 250.
• Elder Yin — Yin Shilan's father; comes to respect Li Shiming's ability and his treatment of Yin Shilan 146 272.
• Master Luo — Yin Shilan's master and a Golden Core Array Grandmaster. Initially underestimates Li due to his Spiritual Root talent, then regrets not accepting him as a disciple 250.
• Great Cultivator Hu — Ten Thousand Beasts Sect master who accepts Li as an official disciple and supports his position within the sect 523 974.
• Feng Lanxin — Ten Thousand Beasts Sect cultivator who guides him into the Ten Thousand Beasts Blessed Land and seeks to recruit him to the Phoenix Faction 517.
• Great Cultivator Liu Ziyun — Central Continent Merchant Guild supervisor who supports Li and recognizes his alchemy standing 593 640 797.
• Li Taibai — Close Great Power ally who remains behind to clear residual power after Yin Shilan's tribulation 1047.

Story Role

Rise in the Northern Shu Continent

Li Shiming builds his foundation through formation research, body refinement, sword practice, and rapid Qi Refining advancement. Following an assassination attempt and conflicts involving the Bright Heart Sect, he develops into a capable late-stage Qi Refining combatant and formation specialist 145 148 161.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he enters Shu Mountain Sect's upper ranks through alchemy. His mass production of High Grade pills earns widespread recognition, sect protection, merchant-guild connections, and the status of Grandmaster Alchemist 235 240 249 291.

Golden Core Authority

After becoming a Golden Core cultivator, Li gains the influence to confront the Bright Heart Sect over the persecution of his mortal family. Rather than destroy the sect, he accepts its offer to become Honorary Great Elder, preserving regional stability while securing tribute and influence 381 390.

Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and Nascent Soul Era

Operating under the alias Li Shizhen, Li joins the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and becomes Great Cultivator Hu's disciple. His Fourth Grade alchemy establishes his reputation across the Eastern Qi Continent, while his combat strength allows him to defeat opponents above his realm 491 517 590.

Great Cultivator and Half-Step Great Power Era

Li accumulates Divine Powers, spirit pets, corpses, formations, and treasures while defeating Great Cultivators and surviving clashes with Great Power clones. His status changes from famed alchemist to a combat benchmark feared by superpowers 612 815 904 995.

He develops the means to simulate advancement through IBMz15 and the Sensing God Monument, strengthens the Eternal Life Water Bear Insects, and reaches the Half-Step Great Power threshold despite lacking a superpower's dedicated advancement environment 991 1006 1010.

Great Power and Beyond

Li survives the Great Power heavenly tribulation, kills Great Power Wen Chao, and becomes a central figure among the cultivation world's Great Powers 1013 1018. His alchemy commissions, personal strength, and alliances elevate the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect into a superpower 1036 1061.

He later reaches Late-Stage Great Power and ultimately becomes a Great Immortal Envoy, gaining the ability to manifest his Blessed Lands externally while remaining independent of the Immortal Alliance 1088 1101.

Trivia

• Li Shiming's original Spiritual Root talent is described as Triple Spiritual Root, a qualification many considered poor for reaching Golden Core 148 201.
• Emperor Jin Geng considered him worthy of the Number One Scholar title before deciding Li could not be used as an official 57.
• He uses the alias Li Shizhen when concealing his identity in the Eastern Qi Continent 477.
• His numerous brains make his soul effectively comparable to having 191 souls 972 1026.
• He is known alongside Li Yuanba and Li Taibai as part of the “Li Clan Lineage” 1042.