Liu Qilan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Liu Qilan (柳绮兰)
Alias(es)	Sister; Master Liu; Second Master
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Artifact Refining Sect, Ninth Peak; later Sword Valley
Occupation/Role	Ninth Peak Lord; formation cultivator; artifact refiner; Lu Nan's master and later Dao Companion
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 54

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nascent Soul, Eighth Layer	385	Breaks through after kneeling on a palace cushion discovered by Lu Nan; he instructs her to stabilize her new realm.
Peak Heavenly Human, nearing Void Returning	497	Awakens from a crystal coffin with an aura touching the Void Returning realm.
Late Tribulation Crossing	597	Has reached the late stage of Tribulation Crossing by Lu Nan's return from the Upper Realm.

Background / History

Liu Qilan is the Peak Lord of the Artifact Refining Sect's Ninth Peak. She finds the severely wounded Lu Nan beside a mountain stream and brings him to Ninth Peak, where Wu Wan tends to his recovery. She introduces herself as Liu Qilan and offers to accept him as her disciple after noting his poor Spiritual Root but unusually strong soul force. Lu Nan agrees once his status with the Azure Lotus Sword Sect can be resolved, becoming her second disciple. 54

Her initial interest in Lu Nan is openly influenced by his appearance; Wu Wan describes her master as particularly fond of good-looking people. Liu Qilan is uninhibited about pinching his cheeks, calling him “Xiao Nan,” and insisting that he address her as “Sister.” 54 57

As Lu Nan's master, she introduces him to formations and the Ninth Peak's distinct inheritance: rather than refining artifacts through runes alone, the peak inscribes formations into artifacts. After witnessing his rapid mastery of basic formations, she entrusts him with the Array Manual, the Ninth Peak's forbidden secret. 55

She actively protects Lu Nan's place in the Artifact Refining Sect and presses Jiang Qing to recognize him as a Peak Lord Disciple. When the Azure Lotus Sword Sect seeks to retain him, Liu Qilan opposes any arrangement that would erase his memories or abolish his cultivation. The dispute ends with Lu Nan formally recognized as the disciple of both Liu Qilan and Ye Hanyan. 56 61 63

Liu Qilan remains invested in Lu Nan's development. She investigates the possibility of improving his Spiritual Root through the Nirvana Pill, provides formation disks before he leaves Ninth Peak, gives him cultivation resources, and repeatedly warns him not to sacrifice the stability of his foundation for rapid advancement. 74 157 272

Appearance

Liu Qilan is described as a mature, strikingly beautiful woman with a carefree bearing. After Lu Nan is believed dead, the shock causes her black hair to turn snow-white instantly. 54 497

• Tall and exceptionally beautiful. 506
• Initially has jet-black hair; it turns white following Lu Nan's apparent death. 497
• Frequently wears a playful or amused expression around Lu Nan. 54 272
• Later carries a faint sword intent after shifting part of her focus toward the Sword Dao. 503

Personality

Liu Qilan is affectionate, unconventional, and openly expressive. She routinely teases Lu Nan, invades his personal space, and values his appearance without concealing it. Her casual behavior contrasts with her serious standards as a master: she recognizes talent quickly, gives Lu Nan access to the Ninth Peak's core inheritance, and expects him to continue cultivating formations. 54 55 57 272

She is fiercely protective of those she considers her own. She argues with sect leaders over Lu Nan's status, competes with Ye Hanyan over their roles in his upbringing, and becomes furious when Lu Nan conceals major breakthroughs from her. 56 61 72 288

Her devotion to Lu Nan becomes central to her later actions. After believing he died alongside an Upper Realm enemy, she collapses in grief; once told he may yet revive, she builds a hut outside Godfall Land and waits for him for three hundred years. 497 499 501

Abilities & Skills

Formation Mastery

Liu Qilan specializes in formations and the Ninth Peak's formation-based artifact-refining tradition.

• Teaches Lu Nan foundational formations and evaluates his progress personally. 55 57
• Entrusts Lu Nan with the forbidden Array Manual of Ninth Peak. 55
• Uses formation disks and layered arrays to trap Ye Hanyan before fleeing with Lu Nan. 72
• Develops and deploys a grand formation in her contest with Ye Hanyan. 73
• Can assess the grade and threat of formations, though she admits she cannot immediately break a peak sixth-grade formation. 385
• Receives Lu Nan's understanding of the Nine Revolutions Formation Dispelling, containing methods up to ninth-grade formations. 503

Formation-Based Artifact Refining

The Ninth Peak's inheritance combines artifact refining with formations rather than relying solely on rune inscription.

• Formations inscribed into artifacts are stated to be more powerful than ordinary rune-refined items. 55
• Provides Lu Nan with multiple powerful formation disks for protection before his departure. 74
• Uses arrays of sword artifacts in battle, enveloping enemies in a large sword formation. 362

Sword Dao

After awakening in Sword Valley, Liu Qilan begins cultivating the Sword Dao alongside her formation path.

• Develops a faint sword intent after awakening. 503
• States that she shifted toward sword cultivation because she believed formations were less useful, though Lu Nan challenges that conclusion. 503
• Continues training formations in Lu Nan's presence in the finale. 699

Equipment / Items

• Array Manual — Ninth Peak's forbidden formation inheritance; entrusted to Lu Nan. 55
• Formation disks and array plates — Used for traps, grand formations, and protective measures. 72 73 74
• Sword artifacts — Controlled as part of a large sword formation against Boiling Fire Cult members. 362
• Ninth Peak token — Used to formalize Lu Nan's standing as a Peak Lord Disciple. 56

Relationships

• Lu Nan — Her second disciple and initially the focus of a protective master-disciple bond. She later confesses her feelings and chooses to become his Dao Companion. She waits outside Godfall Land for three hundred years after his apparent death. 54 296 499 501
• Wu Wan — Her first disciple, treated like a younger sister. Wu Wan cares for Lu Nan during his recovery and becomes his senior sister. 54
• Ye Hanyan — Lu Nan's co-master and Liu Qilan's frequent rival. They compete over the title of Lu Nan's “Great Master,” but also cooperate to protect him. 63 72 73 291
• Jiang Qing — Artifact Refining Sect Leader and her senior brother; their relationship is described as sibling-like, with Liu Qilan readily challenging him over Lu Nan's status. 56
• An Ruizhen — Her later Sword Valley master, who identifies Liu Qilan as the disciple in whom he has the highest hopes. 397
• Lin Yi — Sword Valley's First Ancestor, who fulfills Lu Nan's request to protect Liu Qilan and helps her reach Godfall Land. 497 499

Story Role / Major Arcs

Taking Lu Nan as a Disciple

Liu Qilan rescues Lu Nan, accepts him into Ninth Peak, and begins teaching him formations and artifact refining. Her intervention gives him access to the Artifact Refining Sect's resources and the Array Manual. 54 55 57

Co-Master Dispute

Her effort to claim Lu Nan creates a conflict with the Azure Lotus Sword Sect. Liu Qilan refuses to let Lu Nan lose his cultivation or memories, eventually accepting a co-master arrangement with Ye Hanyan. 61 63

Secret Realm and Sect Conflicts

Liu Qilan supports Lu Nan's preparations for the Azure Desolate Secret Realm, challenges Ye Hanyan over Lu Nan's tutelage, and later helps him recover from the consequences of his cultivation and political conflicts. 73 74 272

Boiling Fire Cult Betrayal

During the conflict surrounding the valley treasure, Liu Qilan is abandoned by allied factions and pursued by a Boiling Fire Cult cultivator. Lu Nan rescues her, kills her attacker, and later supports her retaliation against Shen Wu for Sword Valley's inaction. 383 384

Within the palace they enter afterward, Lu Nan directs Liu Qilan to a cultivation cushion that raises her to Nascent Soul eighth layer. She subsequently chooses to follow him. 385 386

Godfall Land Vigil

After Lu Nan apparently dies fighting an Upper Realm opponent, Liu Qilan's grief turns her hair white. Refusing to abandon hope after learning of his previous resurrection, she establishes a hut outside Godfall Land and waits for him indefinitely. 497 499

Lu Nan revives three hundred years later and reunites with her. Liu Qilan helps conceal his return, escorts him through void passages, and brings him back to Sword Valley. 501 502

Return to the Upper Realm

After Lu Nan's later return from the Upper Realm, Liu Qilan reunites with him again and helps inform him of Ye Hanyan's forced marriage. She accompanies Lu Nan as he intervenes on Ye Hanyan's behalf. 597

When Lu Nan is hunted after exposing his identity, Liu Qilan, Ye Hanyan, and Lu Taiji agree to follow the Heavenly Mystery Hermit to improve their cultivation and become less of a burden to him. 615

Notable Quotes

“If we can't get in, then we won't. I'll wait outside for Xiao Nan to come out.” 499

“Sister here really has found a treasure!” 57

Trivia

• Liu Qilan's first reason for saving Lu Nan is strongly implied to be his appearance rather than his cultivation talent. 54
• She calls Lu Nan “Xiao Nan” and repeatedly insists that he call her “Sister.” 54 272
• Although she once shifts toward the Sword Dao, Lu Nan gives her his formation insights and urges her not to abandon the path that best suits her. 503