Uncle Li

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Uncle Li (Li Qidao) 42 47
Alias(es)	Old Man Li; Elder Li 6 8
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Liang Village; formerly active in the jianghu 5 8
Occupation/Role	Storyteller, retired martial artist, and informal guardian to Wang Anfeng 5 6 47
Status	Alive 48
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Li Qidao lived alone in a small courtyard away from the other villagers of Great Liang Village. He had been close to Wang Anfeng’s family while Wang’s father was alive; after their deaths, Wang continued bringing him food and looking after him. Though stern and intimidating in appearance, Uncle Li was known as kind-hearted and enjoyed the noise of children gathering to hear his stories. 5

In his youth, Li Qidao was a prominent jianghu martial artist. He once rescued the young Li Kangsheng from bandits who had forced the physician to treat their injured leader, killing the bandits and escorting him safely to the city. The two became friends during the journey. 14

After retiring to Great Liang Village, Uncle Li became a local storyteller. His tales introduced Wang Anfeng and the village children to the Seven Great Sects, the Foundation Establishment stage, and the distinctions between internal and external martial arts. He recognized Wang Anfeng’s inner light and True Qi immediately, then was shocked to learn that the boy had cultivated internal arts for only around four hours. 6

Realizing that Wang Anfeng’s extraordinary aptitude and unknown master would eventually draw him into the wider martial world, Li Qidao arranged for him to attend the Phoenix Banquet. He covertly took a Phoenix Invitation from Liu Tianyuan, then tasked Wang Anfeng with delivering it—along with a heavy wine pot—to Li Kangsheng before arriving at Willow Catkin Villa on the Mid-Autumn Festival. 9 27

After Wang Anfeng returned from the Phoenix Banquet with pure internal force, Li Qidao regarded the youth’s potential with relief and anticipation. Later, he was angered by the heavy chains imposed during Wang’s training and sent a wine jar infused with thunder to challenge or test Wang’s unseen master. 42 47

Appearance

An elderly, burly man with stern features, wild white hair resembling a lion’s mane, and an unrestrained bearing. He is frequently seen in worn clothing, seated in his courtyard with a wine gourd or jar. 5 9 47

• White, disheveled hair described as a lion’s mane. 6 9 47
• Stern, intimidating facial features that contrast with his kindness toward villagers and children. 5
• Often carries alcohol and has a notably large appetite. 6 9
• His aged body retains abundant Blood Essence and formidable vitality. 14

Personality

Uncle Li is theatrical, blunt, and fond of teasing both children and Wang Anfeng. He embellishes his storytelling with dramatic pauses and demands snacks from his audience, yet he genuinely enjoys their company and becomes more animated when more people listen. 5 6

Beneath his gruff manner, he is perceptive and protective. He notices Wang Anfeng’s cultivation almost immediately, respects the jianghu taboo against probing another martial artist’s lineage, and quietly worries that Wang’s talent will prevent him from remaining a simple village youth. 6 9

His protectiveness becomes openly aggressive when he sees Wang Anfeng forced to train under heavy chains. Although he cannot directly confront Wang’s master, he sends a thunder-infused wine jar as a martial artist’s answer. 47

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Mastery

Li Qidao possesses martial arts far beyond the level he presents to the villagers.

• Removed Liu Tianyuan’s Phoenix Invitation from inside his robes without the young martial artist noticing, then vanished before anyone could react. 9
• His presence caused falling leaves to turn silently to dust, while purple lightning briefly coiled around his body. 10
• Li Kangsheng describes his martial arts as strong, his Blood Essence as abundant, and his cultivation as great enough to outlast a much younger man. 14
• He was capable of killing an entire group of bandits through “a few afterimages” in his younger days. 14

Thunder-Infused Wine

Li Qidao can seal formidable thunder-based force inside an ordinary-looking wine jar.

• The jar remained intact until opened by Mr. Ying, despite containing purple lightning powerful enough to shred Mr. Ying’s sleeve. 47
• Once its seals broke, the wine manifested as a lightning dragon and caused a celestial phenomenon across a ten-mile radius. 47
• Yuan Ci identified no killing intent in the thunder, interpreting it as an old man’s complaint over Wang Anfeng’s harsh training. 47

Jianghu Knowledge and Judgment

As a former jianghu expert and storyteller, Uncle Li has extensive knowledge of martial society, cultivation, and human nature.

• Explains the Seven Great Sects and the Foundation Establishment paths of internal and external martial arts. 6
• Identifies Wang Anfeng’s internal cultivation through his lively breath, inner light in his eyes, and generated True Qi. 6
• Understands that asking directly about a martial artist’s sect or lineage is taboo in the jianghu. 6
• His teachings shape Wang Anfeng’s approach to judging others by their words and actions. 4

Equipment / Items

• Wine gourd — His constant companion while telling stories or relaxing in his courtyard. 6
• Phoenix Post — A rare Phoenix Banquet invitation taken from Liu Tianyuan and entrusted to Wang Anfeng; it grants exceptional status at Willow Catkin Villa. 9 27
• Black Iron Wine Pot / Mystic Crystal Pot — A heavy, patterned wine vessel delivered to Li Kangsheng as proof of Uncle Li’s friendship. 9 13
• Thunder wine jar — A sealed jar containing thunder-infused wine, sent to Wang Anfeng’s master in response to the youth’s chain training. 47

Relationships

• Wang Anfeng — Family friend and informal guardian. Li Qidao accepted Wang’s food and care after Wang became an orphan, taught him about the jianghu, recognized his immense potential, and arranged his entry into the Phoenix Banquet. 5 6 9 47
• Li Kangsheng — Old friend. Li Qidao rescued the younger Li Kangsheng from bandits years earlier; the two became friends while traveling together. 13 14
• Yuan Ci — Wang Anfeng’s master. Li Qidao has no direct meeting with him, but responds angrily to Yuan Ci’s chain-based training by sending thunder-infused wine through Wang. 47
• Mr. Ying — Another of Wang Anfeng’s masters. Mr. Ying opens Li Qidao’s wine jar and recognizes the precision of the thunder sealed within it. 47
• Liu Tianyuan — A Liu family disciple whose Phoenix Invitation Li Qidao took without being detected. 9

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Great Liang Village storyteller — Introduces the village children and Wang Anfeng to tales of emperors, heroes, sects, and cultivation. 5 6
• Recognition of Wang Anfeng’s talent — Detects Wang’s newly cultivated True Qi and realizes his aptitude may rival the direct disciples of the Seven Great Sects. 6
• Phoenix Banquet instigator — Acquires the Phoenix Post and sends Wang Anfeng to Li Kangsheng and Willow Catkin Villa under the guise of a delivery errand. 9 13 27
• Return to Great Liang Village — Receives Wang after the Phoenix Banquet and learns that his internal force has become pure. 42
• Challenge to Wang’s masters — Objects to Wang’s heavy chain training and sends a thunder-charged wine jar to the Shaolin realm. 47

Notable Quotes

“Listen to their words and observe their actions, and you can make a judgment.” 4

“He only fears that there will be no one in Baekje stronger than him.” 5

Trivia

• Uncle Li is a heavy drinker and can finish a pot of light wine and a large portion of pork with ease. 9
• Despite living alone, he welcomes the village children and appears to enjoy the liveliness they bring to his courtyard. 5
• Wang Anfeng believes he is the one “raising” Uncle Li, a claim that regularly provokes the old man. 6