Liu Ruyan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Liu Ruyan (柳如烟)
Alias(es)	Ninth Imperial Daughter; Ninth Princess; Empress of the Maple Leaf Dynasty; Senior Sister Liu; Mistress of Changqing Peak
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Shushan Holy Land; Cloud Perch Peak; Maple Leaf Dynasty
Occupation/Role	Former Shushan Outer and Inner Disciple; Ninth Imperial Daughter and later Empress of the Maple Leaf Dynasty
Status	Alive
First Appearance	11

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Half-step Foundation Establishment	18 33	A Seventh Courtyard prodigy; Willow Wood notes that she is the only Half-step Foundation Establishment cultivator among the scoreboard’s top twenty.
Late Golden Core Stage	261	Her cultivation during the Hundred Dynasties War; she is overwhelmed by Liu Qing’s Nascent Soul subordinate.
Violet Mansion Realm	274	Chen Changqing uses a fragment of Shushan Power to heal her critical injuries; its residual power shatters her Golden Core and condenses a Violet Mansion.
Spirit Transmutation Realm	471	Reaches this realm after the Maple Leaf Dynasty’s victory enables her to receive a Divine Dynasty baptism and inherit the Empress’s legacy.
Early Tribulation Crossing Realm	832	Refines the Maple Leaf Dynasty’s dragon vein and returns to Shushan with imperial Dragon Qi and overwhelming pressure.

Background

Liu Ruyan entered Shushan as an Outer Disciple of the Seventh Courtyard despite being the ninth daughter of Empress Liu Ye of the Maple Leaf Dynasty. She later realizes that Liu Ye deliberately arranged this path so that she would gain experience in the point-based trials resembling the Hundred Dynasties War. 227 241

During the Outer Sect Competition, Chen Changqing helps her acquire enough points in the Void Realm to enter the Inner Sect. Although she is only at Half-step Foundation Establishment, Cloud Perch Peak directly accepts her after her advancement to the Inner Sect, marking her as an unusually favored disciple. 40 43

Her royal identity is initially concealed from most Shushan disciples. By the time of the Hundred Dynasties War, she reveals herself as the Ninth Princess of the Maple Leaf Dynasty and recruits Chen Changqing as her external helper in the contest to choose the next Empress. 227 233

Appearance

Liu Ruyan is repeatedly described as having an ethereal, celestial bearing. Her beauty and composed presence draw attention even among Shushan’s disciples. 11 18

• Snow-white skin, an icy expression, and a striking figure in her early appearances. 18
• Often wears flowing white robes and travels on a white jade flying sword. 11
• Carries an elegant ancient sword on her back. 65
• Later appears in a fiery red gown embroidered with a Nine Nether Golden Phoenix, befitting her status as Empress. 832
• Possesses phoenix-like eyes and an imperial aura enhanced by Dragon Qi. 832 835

Personality

Initially, Liu Ruyan is reserved and discerning. Chen Changqing’s conduct at Qingxi Village—along with Elder Willow Wood’s unusual regard for him—causes her to reassess a junior disciple she had previously overlooked. 16

She is ambitious without being reckless. Her decision to enter the Hundred Dynasties War stems from a genuine desire to contend for the Maple Leaf throne, despite its life-or-death stakes. 227 233

Liu Ruyan is protective of those she values. She refuses repeated attempts by her sisters to recruit Chen Changqing away from her faction, remains confident in him when the court mocks his apparent realm, and becomes increasingly protective after seeing officials shift their attitudes toward him. 238 243 302

Her affection for Chen Changqing grows from admiration and gratitude into open initiative. Encouraged by Liu Ye to seize opportunities, she confesses her feelings, remains accepting of his engagement to Xuanyuan Xiaoyu, and publicly asserts herself as the mistress of Changqing Peak. 303 471 887

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation and Imperial Dragon Qi

As Empress, Liu Ruyan refines the Maple Leaf Dynasty’s dragon vein, gaining imperial Dragon Qi and reaching the Tribulation Crossing Realm. 832

• Her imperial pressure overwhelms Changqing Peak disciples and even proves difficult for a True Lord cultivator to resist. 832
• She repels wolf demon guards with the pressure of her early Tribulation Crossing cultivation. 835
• She has used crimson-gold flame through her fingertips, though Chen Changqing stops her before she can kill the attacking wolf demon centurion. 835

Sword Cultivation

Liu Ruyan is a sword cultivator from Shushan and carries an ancient sword. 26 65

• Defends herself with a hovering long sword during the Outer Sect Competition’s Void Realm trial. 26
• Her earlier cultivation is insufficient against established Foundation Establishment opponents, but she refuses to surrender her points. 26 33

Political Acumen

Liu Ruyan learns to use reputation, alliances, and court dynamics to protect her interests.

• Reveals Chen Changqing’s Azure Dragon Ranking status to overturn the court’s disdain for her choice of helper. 239
• Uses Chen Changqing’s supposed seclusion as a pretext to deny her sisters access to him. 243
• Handles her confrontation with Xuanyuan Xiaoyu through calm assertion rather than direct hostility, claiming the role of Changqing Peak’s mistress. 887 888

Equipment / Items

• Ancient sword — An elegant sword carried on her back while she is an Inner Sect disciple. 65
• Maple Splendor Boat — Flying vessel used to depart Shushan with Chen Changqing for the Maple Leaf Dynasty. 227
• Thirty-Six Sword Pattern Outer Robe — A white robe she gives Chen Changqing; its sword patterns conceal the spiritual fluctuations of his Silver Firmament Battle Armor. 892

Relationships

• Chen Changqing — Junior brother, ally in the Hundred Dynasties War, and the man she loves. He saves her repeatedly, secures her victory in the war, and later stands with her against Xuanyuan Xiaoyu. 40 262 296 303 886 887
• Liu Ye / Empress Willow Leaf — Mother and former Empress of the Maple Leaf Dynasty. Liu Ye favors Liu Ruyan, arranges her Shushan experience, advises her to pursue Chen Changqing, and later transfers rule of the dynasty to her. 238 241 303 471
• Liu Tian — Father. He warmly welcomes her return to the Maple Leaf Dynasty and recognizes Chen Changqing’s importance to her success. 233 302
• Liu Qing — Eighth Imperial Daughter and rival sister. Liu Qing attempts to murder and humiliate Liu Ruyan during the Hundred Dynasties War; Liu Ruyan refuses to spare her after Chen Changqing rescues her. 261 262
• Liu Shi — Eldest Imperial Daughter and political rival. Liu Shi attempts to recruit Chen Changqing and later accepts defeat after his aid secures Liu Ruyan’s overwhelming lead. 246 278
• Wang Junmo — Imperial City Guard General. Initially dismisses Chen Changqing due to his Violet Mansion cultivation, but later witnesses Liu Ruyan’s affection for him. 233 471
• Elder Willow Wood — Shushan elder who comforts Liu Ruyan after her defeat and recognizes her after she returns to Shushan as Empress. 33 833
• Xuanyuan Xiaoyu — Chen Changqing’s betrothed and Liu Ruyan’s romantic rival. Their rivalry is restrained but explicit, particularly over Liu Ruyan’s claim to Changqing Peak. 886 887 888

Story Role / Major Arcs

Shushan Outer Sect

Liu Ruyan begins as one of the Seventh Courtyard’s foremost disciples. She joins the Qingxi Village mission, becomes curious about Chen Changqing’s hidden strength, and gradually seeks a connection with him. 16

During the Outer Sect Competition, she is injured while defending her points and later loses to Jiang An. Despite this, Chen Changqing’s gains in the Void Realm help her enter the Inner Sect. 26 33 40

Cloud Perch Peak and Inner Sect

After reaching the Inner Sect, Liu Ruyan is directly selected by Cloud Perch Peak. She watches over Chen Changqing’s movements and gives him a Golden Core Condensing Pill before his challenge against Bai Hao, explicitly calling it an investment in his future. 43 56 66

Hundred Dynasties War

Liu Ruyan recruits Chen Changqing to help her contend for the Maple Leaf Dynasty’s throne. Court rivals initially ridicule her choice of a Violet Mansion helper, but she overturns their judgment by revealing his identity as the Azure Dragon Ranking’s first-place holder. 227 238 239

Within the secret realm, Liu Qing nearly kills her. Chen Changqing returns in time to save her, and Liu Ruyan chooses not to forgive Liu Qing. 261 262

After she is critically wounded by Qiang Lan, Chen Changqing uses Shushan Power to heal her and propel her from Late Golden Core to Violet Mansion. He later transfers his accumulated points to her, placing her first on the leaderboard with more than 20,000 points. 274 278

The Maple Leaf Dynasty wins first place in the Hundred Dynasties War, and Liu Ye names Liu Ruyan the next Empress. Liu Ruyan openly recognizes that this victory was made possible by Chen Changqing. 296

Empress of the Maple Leaf Dynasty

Liu Ruyan becomes Empress after attaining the required Spirit Transmutation cultivation. She remains emotionally close to Chen Changqing, becoming notably more proactive in expressing affection despite his status as the Divine Dynasty’s Imperial Son-in-Law. 302 471

By the time she returns to Shushan, she has refined the dynasty’s dragon vein and reached Early Tribulation Crossing. Her return confirms both her political authority and her standing as one of Chen Changqing’s closest companions. 832 833

Ten Thousand Demon City

Liu Ruyan accompanies Chen Changqing into Demon Race territory. She responds forcefully to insults and threats against Wangcai, supports Chen Changqing during conflicts with demon clans, and remains at his side when the Golden-Winged Roc King and multiple Tribulation Crossing experts surround them. 834 835 847

Changqing Peak Rivalry

When Xuanyuan Xiaoyu arrives at Shushan, Liu Ruyan faces her alongside Chen Changqing. She claims the position of Changqing Peak’s mistress, deliberately frames Xuanyuan Xiaoyu as a guest, and later counsels her that Chen Changqing cannot be kept through possessiveness. 886 887 888 889

Notable Quotes

“If accepting it makes you uneasy, then consider this pill an investment I'm making in you.” 66

“As long as you have a place for me in your heart, that's all that matters.” 471

“Greetings, younger sister. I am Liu Ruyan... The mistress of Changqing Peak.” 887

“If you want him to remain by your side, you cannot rely on chains. You must become a sky where he is willing to rest.” 889