Li Yao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Yao (李尧)
Alias(es)	Cao Tao; Lin Li; Boss Li 309 676
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lost Tavern; International Esper Unified Administration; collaborator with the Phoenix Legion and Wallfacers 273 477 674
Occupation/Role	Mage; alchemist and artificer; owner of the Lost Tavern; Director of the Unified Administration’s Technology Research and Logistics Department 134 477 674
Status	Missing; his information and records were blocked or erased from others’ memories 670 850
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early Mage trainee	5	Learned Meditation and Mage Hand, gaining the ability to telekinetically manipulate non-magical, ownerless objects weighing up to five kilograms.
Formal Mage	61 62	Endured an Advancement Ceremony that engraved Spirit Marks into his soul and formed his Magic Spirit Pool; his staff’s sealed backup spell supplied the soul force needed to finish the process.
Third Ring Mage	270 272	Advanced after a battle and subsequent Meditation; became eligible to choose a specialization.
Specialized Mage	378	Obtained a specialization, raising his overall combat ability to the point that he could contend with Fourth Rank opponents and confront Fifth Rank opponents.
Fourth Ring Mage	745	Reached the Fourth Ring in less than two years, a pace Lin Xiaowei identifies as exceptional.
Intermediate Rank Mage	674	Imprinted four specializations and advanced to Intermediate Rank; his individual combat strength became comparable to a Tier 6 Esper.
Fifth Circle Mage	839	Had reached the Fifth Circle while trapped in a mist-filled confinement space with the Old Celestial Master.

Background / History

Li Yao began as a university student on Earth and Lin Xiaowei’s sole cross-plane contact. After she entrusted him with looking after her parents, he adopted Meditation as part of his daily routine and learned Mage Hand from the magical material she sent him. Meditation sharpened his senses, enabled him to multitask, and dramatically improved his academic performance. 4 5

He used Lin Xiaowei’s lessons and supplies to become an increasingly capable mage and alchemist. He researched spell circuits through Meditation, received a Demiplane Space Ring stocked with alchemical equipment, and developed practical potions including Cleansing, Vitality, and Healing Spirit Liquids. 12 16 20 83

His involvement with Earth’s extraordinary world intensified after the Azure Dragon Mountain incident, where he intervened against an Onmyoji’s forces and protected Lin Xiaoxi despite being physically outmatched by nearby martial fighters. 37 38 He subsequently became a regular presence around the Lost Tavern, the Phoenix Legion, and the Wallfacers, providing magical equipment, healing supplies, tactical support, and technical expertise. 83 94 119

Appearance

Li Yao has short hair and can present himself as a young nobleman when dressed in modified Han-style clothing. 724

• The Azvik Generation 3 Improved Mage Armor transforms over him as matte-silver metal marked by dark-blue array patterns. 99
• He uses a Shapeshifter Mask to conceal his identity and alter his appearance during operations. 273
• He is repeatedly regarded as notably handsome by himself and those around him. 400 691

Personality

Li Yao remains calm during crises and relies on preparation, study, and backup plans rather than bravado. During his Formal Mage advancement, he anticipated the possibility of losing consciousness and prepared his staff as an emergency measure. 47 61 He is highly adaptable, readily combining Mage methods, Earth cultivation, alchemy, technology, and biological engineering when conventional approaches are insufficient. 66 67 513

He describes himself as an independent, selfish slacker who does not seek institutional power for its own sake, yet he retains kindness and responds strongly to the suffering of people close to him. 58 84 94 His relaxed demeanor coexists with vanity about equipment, a habit of teasing friends, and a tendency to use humor even under pressure. 99 244 697

Abilities & Skills

Magecraft and spellcasting

Li Yao’s core strength is structured Mage spellcasting, supported by rapid spell analysis, circuit deconstruction, and increasingly refined spiritual control.

• Mage Hand — Telekinetically controls non-magical, ownerless objects up to five kilograms; it became nearly instantaneous after sustained practice. 5
• Defensive magic — Suffering Spirit Armor automatically manifests when he suffers malicious damage and can fully withstand a powerful Second Circle attack or substantially weaken a Third Circle attack. 106
• Mobility and control — Learned Ghostly Steps and Frozen Chains to complete his offensive and defensive spell system. 107
• Elemental offense — Uses spells such as Fireball, Flame Chains, Walls of Fire, Crimson Flame Orb, Sonic Boom, and Ground Fissure. 275 556
• Instant casting through equipment — The Azvik armor allows him to cast nearly all of his spells almost instantly when fully activated. 603

Meditation, Spirit Sense, and divination

Meditation is Li Yao’s primary method of rest, spiritual cultivation, spell analysis, and recovery.

• His mental-power coverage reached approximately 110 meters before his Formal Mage advancement. 60
• Meditation can sharpen his five senses enough for him to overhear conversations while cultivating. 4
• His spiritual pressure became powerful enough to frighten ordinary people when deliberately focused. 275
• He can use Magic Array Inscriptions to enhance divination, producing an internal structural scan far beyond conventional medical imaging. 551
• His Spirit Sense can be hindered by specialized effects such as the fog used by the Onmyoji on Azure Dragon Mountain. 37

Alchemy and artificing

Li Yao produces magical consumables, enchantments, and equipment while constantly searching for new materials and applications.

• Created Cleansing Potions and Vitality Potions, testing their effects on a miniature pig and himself. 20
• Produces Healing Spirit Liquid for injured Espers and allies. 83 94
• Makes personalized protective amulets with different forms and sealed defensive spells for specific recipients. 83
• Collects and analyzes Otherkind organs and spiritual materials for use in new potion formulas. 601
• Designed Battle Armor projects for five captive Sixth Circle Mages to manufacture. 779

Qi Refinement and sword arts

Although primarily a Mage, Li Yao practices Earth-style cultivation to reinforce his body and incorporates martial concepts into his magic.

• The Qi Refining Technique strengthens his physique and improves bodily control. 59 291
• Modified the Spring Rain sword technique to fit Mage combat principles. 66 484
• Converts magic power into Sword Qi, creating continuous damaging attacks and later compressing Spring Rain Sword Qi into destructive firepower. 67 484
• Uses transmutation buffs such as Insight, Haste, and Dragon Skin to improve perception, evasion, defense, and physical performance. 483

Summoning and biological warfare

Li Yao supplements his own combat ability with contracted creatures, summoned tools, and biological assets.

• Sauron — His Familiar, capable of stealth, ambushes, shadow-based combat, and fighting Fifth Rank Espers after reaching the Fourth Ring sequence. 309 378
• Mother Empress Maeve — Bound by a Slavery Contract; Li Yao can direct biological weapons through his soul-origin connection to her. 239 261
• Summoning Balls — A belt of mentally controlled summoning tools supplied by Lin Xiaowei during a pursuit crisis. 313
• Cross-Plane Positioning Strike Beacon — Enables cross-plane support and anchoring. 313 378

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Demiplane Space Ring — A ring worn on his left index finger; its internal space is approximately ten miles in radius and stores alchemy tools, Magic Stones, and supplies. 16
• Dragon Blood Purple Sandalwood Staff — Contains a sealed emergency spell that can provide powerful soul force during critical moments. 61
• Azvik Generation 3 Improved Mage Armor — A Mage battle suit with defensive, offensive, movement, and disguise functions; initially limited by Li Yao’s spiritual cultivation and micro-control. 98 99
• Shapeshifter Mask — Used to operate under alternate identities. 273
• Full-Sensory Operation Golem—Unit 01 — A combat golem whose defense can endure missile strikes; an ordinary operator can use it to overpower multiple Fifth Rank Espers. 773
• Summoning Ball belt and Cross-Plane beacon — Emergency cross-plane equipment supplied by Lin Xiaowei. 313

Relationships

• Lin Xiaowei / My Dead Friend — His cross-plane friend, magical mentor, supplier, and closest collaborator. She taught him Magecraft, sent him equipment, and repeatedly provided emergency support; he reciprocates by sending Earth resources, technology, and ideas to her Otherworld. Their relationship later becomes explicitly personal enough to draw Kentji’s concern. 5 16 313 513 745
• Lin Xiaoxi — Lin Xiaowei’s younger sister. Li Yao protects her during supernatural incidents, seeks her support before dangerous advancement, and maintains a teasing, sibling-like dynamic with her. 38 61 773
• Chen Xi — His employee and close companion at the Lost Tavern. They work comfortably together, train alongside the Wallfacers’ circle, and cooperate smoothly in combat. 56 99 534
• Lu Xingshen / Old Man Lu — A demanding elder and martial mentor. He teaches Li Yao sword principles, while Li Yao adapts those teachings into Mage-compatible techniques. 65 66 67
• Feng Li — Neighbor, Wallfacer associate, and trusted business partner. She brokers his potion sales, shares intelligence about the extraordinary world, and fights beside him. 134 149 379
• Sauron — Li Yao’s Familiar and frequent combat partner. Their relationship is effective but irreverent, with Li Yao often teasing the increasingly large cat. 309 697
• Maeve / Mother Empress — A biologically powerful subordinate bound by Li Yao’s Slavery Contract; she supports his biological weapon, prosthetic, and manufacturing projects. 239 261 513
• Li Yao’s parents, Lao Li and Zhang Yufeng — His parents on Earth. He assists the Lin family’s medical needs while managing his own parents’ concern and their volatile family dynamic. 12 570

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Cross-plane apprenticeship — Receives Mage knowledge from Lin Xiaowei, cares for her parents, develops Meditation and Mage Hand, and begins producing practical alchemical supplies. 4 5 12 20
• Azure Dragon Mountain incident — Enters Earth’s supernatural conflicts, assists against the Onmyoji’s followers, and leaves with Lin Xiaoxi after a confrontation with the masked group. 37 38 39
• Formal Mage advancement — Performs a painful Advancement Ceremony, establishes his Magic Spirit Pool, and expands his spell, alchemy, and protective-equipment capabilities. 61 62 83 106
• Wallfacer and Phoenix Legion support — Provides Healing Spirit Liquid, amulets, magical intelligence, and battlefield support while learning from Old Man Lu and other Espers. 83 94 119
• Otherworld development — Helps Lin Xiaowei govern the Otherworld through the Otherworld Cabinet Group, sends educational and recording equipment, and proposes a God of Knowledge concept. 119 287
• Global operations — Following his appointment as a Unified Administration director, infiltrates organizations across North Russia, Western Europe, South America, and the Mediterranean under disguises backed by Maeve Manufacturing’s intelligence network. 674
• Han Plane reunion — Reunites with Lin Xiaowei in person, is immediately incapacitated by her electrified greeting, and becomes known among Main World Mages through the “Li Scholars” group. 721 724
• Ring Tower and Shelter Base — Becomes the Ring Tower’s Tower Spirit, asserts authority as “Boss,” and commissions Battle Armor production from captured Mages. 779 784
• Information-erasure incident — Vanishes from the awareness and records of those closest to him; Lin Xiaowei leads an effort to reconstruct memories and locate him through residual information. 850 851

Trivia

• Li Yao often uses Meditation instead of sleep, though he acknowledges that ordinary sleep is more pleasant when mental fatigue becomes severe. 119 652
• He considers himself an equipment-oriented Mage and compares the Azvik armor to Iron Man’s suit. 48 98
• A group of Main World Mages calling themselves the Li Scholars studies his identity, lineage, and achievements. 724
• He assigned five enslaved Sixth Circle Mages numerical designations from Six One to Six Five because he found their names too difficult to remember. 779