Rujie

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Rujie (如戒)
Alias(es)	Master Rujie; Buddhist Son; Buddha Child
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tianyin Temple, previously described as a subordinate sect of Great Thunderclap Temple 95
Occupation / Role	Buddhist cultivator; Tianyin Temple’s Buddhist Son; later Abbot of Tianyin Temple 858 867
Status	Active; acknowledged as Tianyin Temple’s new abbot by the Tianyin Buddha Bone 867 868
First Appearance	95

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Late Core Formation	95	Investigated the demonic aura around a small town and recruited Chen Changqing—then using the alias “Li Feiyu”—to help kill the responsible ghost.
Great Perfection Core Formation	150 154	Entered the Buddhist light released by a restored Buddha statue and emerged with a Buddhist inheritance, advancing to one step short of Golden Core.
Late Golden Core	199	Debuted at tenth place on the Azure Dragon Ranking, marking him as a Tianyin Temple prodigy.
Nascent Soul	402 403	The earlier Buddhist inheritance was stated to have carried him into the Nascent Soul Realm; he sought merit against Yulan Village’s ghosts for his Holy Son selection.
God Transformation	681	Had reached God Transformation by the time he visited Chen Changqing after the Seven Peaks Grand Competition.
Mid Tribulation Crossing	751	Broke through in an ancient temple while cultivating beneath a manifested golden Buddhist wheel.

Background / History

Rujie first met Chen Changqing at an inn while Chen was traveling under the name “Li Feiyu.” He had detected sinister energy around the town and intended to investigate, but sought Chen’s aid because killing the demon would earn Buddhist merit. Both were then Late Core Formation cultivators. 95

He led Chen Changqing and Wangcai to the mist-covered ghost territory, where he used Lotus Steps for travel. During the battle with Ghost Granny, Rujie restrained the Ghost General with the Great Sun Tathagata Curse, but exhausted himself; the Black Mountain Ghost King’s descending pressure later shattered his Buddhist-light chains. 96 100 After Ghost Granny’s defeat, Rujie questioned Chen’s decision to spare Xiaoqian, though he ultimately respected it. 102

Rujie reunited with Chen Changqing on the way to the Daoist Sect and entered the Qiankun Secret Realm with him. Outmatched by the cultivators inside, he directly asked Chen to accompany him in seeking Tianyin Temple’s ancestral inheritance. He recovered a golden Buddha head, restored a headless statue, and entered its Buddhist light, later emerging with the inheritance and Great Perfection Core Formation. 136 146 150 154

After becoming a ranked prodigy, Rujie sought Chen Changqing’s help again for the Buddhist sect’s Holy Son selection. He needed merit from purifying powerful ghosts, particularly the Ghost Emperors of Yulan Village. Chen’s destruction of the four Ghost Emperors gave Rujie the battle records needed to strengthen his candidacy. 199 403 414 415

Appearance

Rujie is a bald, plump monk with a large belly and round face. Though usually dressed in monk’s robes or a kasaya, his clothing and habits contrast sharply with the image of a strict ascetic. 136 346 858

• Often wears a moon-white monk’s robe. 346
• Has a visibly oil-glistening face and a fondness for wine and meat. 346 685
• His body becomes heavily muscled when he activates the Tiger-Taming Arhat inheritance. 860
• Carries a Buddha Bone against his chest after obtaining it in the Immortal Secret Realm. 724 867

Personality

Rujie is talkative, shamelessly opportunistic, and prone to treating powerful allies as potential protection. He openly sought Chen Changqing’s help in dangerous secret realms, tried to attach himself to Bai Wuya, and routinely eyes valuable treasures or convenient opportunities. 146 691 754

His lax behavior does not erase his convictions. He drinks, eats meat, flirts with women, and makes irreverent jokes, yet he sincerely opposes cruelty committed in Buddhism’s name. The revelation that Leiyin Temple monks massacred an entire town enraged him, and he thanked Chen Changqing for purging those responsible. 136 404

When danger becomes real, Rujie does not simply flee. He held his position against Ming Jiuyou despite admitting that retreat would be possible if necessary, fought beside Si Youyou while injured, and refused to yield Tianyin Temple’s standing to Great Thunderclap Temple. 760 764 859

Abilities & Skills

Buddhist Techniques

Rujie employs Buddhist light, seals, and chants to suppress ghosts, demons, formations, and hostile spiritual techniques.

• Great Sun Tathagata Curse — Bound Ghost Granny in chains of Buddhist light, though Rujie struggled to sustain the technique and the Black Mountain Ghost King’s pressure shattered it. 100
• Great Sun Tathagata Seal — Broke the black threads restraining him in the Immortal Secret Realm and struck at the Netherworld Soul-Locking Formation’s flags. 760 764
• His Buddhist methods can be suppressed by enemies with overwhelming cultivation or specialized soul-sealing formations. 100 764

Lotus Steps

A movement technique that lets Rujie travel with unexpected agility despite his stout build. 96

• Used to travel alongside Chen Changqing outside the haunted town. 96

Vajra Body

A defensive Buddhist technique that forms a golden protective body around Rujie. 725

• Allowed him to withstand the combined attacks of one Tribulation Crossing cultivator and two Late God Transformation cultivators. 725
• The defense shattered under that assault, leaving him severely injured and unable to continue fighting. 725

Tiger-Taming Arhat Inheritance

A hidden inheritance revealed during Rujie’s Dharma debate against Wuchen. It substantially amplifies his physical power and Buddhist presence. 860

• Activated through his blood-stained prayer beads when he was pressed by the Demon-Suppressing Bowl. 859 860
• Transforms his normally soft appearance into a muscular Arhat-like form. 860
• Manifests as the Tiger-Taming Arhat dharma image, which later bowed to the Tianyin Buddha Bone. 867 868

Tianyin Buddha Bone

A Buddhist relic and inheritance tied to Tianyin Temple’s leadership. 724 867

• The Buddha Bone Relic can assist cultivation breakthroughs and strengthen its bearer’s physical body. 725
• Its acknowledgment of Rujie established him as Tianyin Temple’s new abbot. 867
• It can draw residual demonic aura away from others, as shown after Master Huixin’s rescue. 867

Equipment / Items

• Prayer beads — Reacted to Rujie’s blood and awakened the Tiger-Taming Arhat inheritance. 859 860
• Buddha Bone Relic / Tianyin Buddha Bone — A relic found in an abandoned herb garden; later recognized as the object that legitimized his succession as abbot. 724 867
• Broken bowl — Used to carry and conceal the Buddha Bone during the Immortal Secret Realm expedition. 759 760

Relationships

• Chen Changqing — Close friend and repeated benefactor. Chen helped him kill Ghost Granny, obtain Tianyin Temple’s inheritance, build merit for the Buddhist Holy Son selection, and survive several crises in the Immortal Secret Realm. 95 146 403 725 760
• Xiaoqian — Initially viewed by Rujie as a ghost who should be delivered from the mortal world; she remains wary of him because Chen Changqing had to intervene to spare her. They later cooperated at Yulan Village. 403 404 681
• Hua Yao — Traveling companion who disliked his intrusive flirting and rejected his offers to “look after” her. 136
• Bai Wuya — Temporary Immortal Secret Realm companion and protector. Rujie openly sought Bai Wuya’s protection after the latter saved him from cultivators pursuing the Buddha Bone. 726
• Si Youyou — Fellow traveler and combat ally in the Immortal Secret Realm; she rescued him from the Netherworld Sect, though she regularly mocks his cowardice and boasting. 760 762
• Master Huixin — His martial uncle, whom Rujie supported after Chen Changqing freed him from the Demon Buddha Nails. 867
• Zen Master Bado — Rujie’s grand-disciple-master and Hua Xing’s younger brother. 346 686
• Wuchen — Great Thunderclap Temple monk who challenged Rujie’s status and Tianyin Temple’s right to retain Northern Region incense offerings. 858 860

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Ghost Granny incident — Recruits Chen Changqing to investigate a ghost-infested town for merit, beginning their long-standing friendship. 95 100 102
• Qiankun Secret Realm — Depends on Chen Changqing for protection while pursuing Tianyin Temple’s ancestral Buddhist inheritance, which advances his cultivation. 146 150 154
• Azure Dragon Ranking — Enters at tenth place while at Late Golden Core, earning recognition as Tianyin Temple’s rising prodigy. 199
• Buddhist Holy Son selection — Pursues merit through Yulan Village’s Ghost Emperors, using their defeat as evidence for his candidacy. 403 414 415
• Immortal Secret Realm — Finds the Buddha Bone, survives attempts to seize it, fights the Netherworld Sect with Chen Changqing and Si Youyou, and reaches Mid Tribulation Crossing. 724 725 751 766
• Tianyin Temple crisis — Defends Tianyin Temple against Great Thunderclap Temple’s pressure, unveils the Tiger-Taming Arhat inheritance, and becomes abbot after the Tianyin Buddha Bone recognizes him. 859 860 867

Notable Quotes

“Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but the Buddha remains in the heart.” 403

“The more people tell this poor monk to scram, the more he wants to stand right where he is.” 764

“If this poor monk stuffs the Buddha Bone back in now, is it still in time?” 867

Trivia

• After breaking through to Mid Tribulation Crossing, Rujie’s first concern was whether he had grown hair. 751
• He calls himself both “this humble monk” and “this Buddha,” often depending on whether he is joking, boasting, or frightened. 725 760
• Despite his Buddhist identity, he openly eats meat and drinks wine at formal gatherings. 685