Xu Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xu Yan (许炎)
Alias(es)	Sword God Xu Yan; Sword King; formerly used Xie Lingfeng's name in the Inner Domain 123 144 338
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Xuan's eldest disciple; Evergreen Pavilion; Qinghua Sect 65 163 445
Occupation/Role	Martial artist, Sword Dao cultivator, and pioneer of Li Xuan's Martial Dao 100 163
Status	Active 572
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Skin Tempering	4	Sensed Blood Essence, mobilized it to refine his skin and membranes, and entered Martial Dao cultivation.
Skin Tempering Great Success	5	Achieved through balancing cultivation with cooking, farming, and other daily work.
Bone Refining	8	Completed Skin Tempering in twenty days and began refining his bones.
Golden Bone	19	Reached the ninth transformation of Bone Refining; his Blood Essence became purer and his body stronger.
Qi and Blood Realm cultivation method	29 30	Comprehended the principle of gathering Blood Essence like myriad streams flowing into an ocean.
Qi and Blood Realm Great Completion	66	His breakthrough manifested as a hundred-zhang giant dragon above the King of Qi's manor; he also comprehended the Innate Realm method.
Mountain River Sword Intent — Great Accomplishment	87	Comprehended Sword Intent before entering the Innate Realm.
Innate Realm	87	Prepared to open the Heaven and Earth Bridge, condense Innate True Qi, and establish a Dantian Sea of Qi.
Clear Sword Heart — Great Accomplishment	129	Tempered his state of mind and found a direction to improve Mountain River Sword Intent through the “Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers.”
Innate Realm Great Perfection	143	Purified and strengthened his True Qi through repeated splitting and refinement.
Peak Xiantian Realm	166	Continued accumulating his foundation rather than immediately forcing a breakthrough.
Profound Understanding Realm	187	True Qi condensed into True Essence; gained the Mountain River Spiritual Body and the rudimentary Life and Death Sword Wheel.
Profound Understanding Realm — Minor Completion	195	Comprehended Xun Feng Sword Intent.
Divine Intent Realm — Peak	208 288	Comprehended the Divine Intent method and later reached the realm's peak.
Heart Sword Realm	243	Entered the second realm of the Sword Dao while consolidating his Martial Dao on Canglan Island.
Spirit Origin Realm	309	Transformed into the Mountain River Divine Body and comprehended the sixth level of the Dragon Subduing Palm.
Heart Sword Realm — Perfection	355	Reached perfection in the Heart Sword Realm, nearing the Wisdom Sword Realm.
Supernatural Ability Realm	355 356	Manifested five innate supernatural abilities, including Sword Mountain River and One Thought No Trace.
Supernatural Ability Realm — Minor Completion	369	Could contend more easily with Blood Shadows after advancing from his earlier battle with Blood Disciple 726.
Wisdom Sword Realm	384	Broke through to the third known realm of the Sword Dao.
Supernatural Ability Realm — Perfection	385	Completed the realm and left the Qinghua Realm to seek special treasures and further temper himself.
Heaven and Earth Realm — Martial Dao understanding	421	Consuming the Seven Marvelous Divine Flower brought a major advance in his understanding of the Heaven and Earth Realm.
Void Breaking Realm	445	Transformed into the Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers Dao Body.
Heaven and Earth Realm	494	Officially broke through, causing Heaven and Earth Laws and Dao Principles to manifest.
Dao Establishment Realm — Perfection	572	Reached the perfection of Dao Establishment.

Background

Xu Yan originated from the wealthy Xu family of Donghe Commandery. He became Li Xuan's disciple after presenting the Nine-Leaf Spirit Ganoderma as an apprenticeship gift; Li Xuan used it in medicinal chicken soup and shared it with him. 3 4

His training began with a horse stance and attempts to sense qi and blood. Although Li Xuan's initial cultivation framework was fabricated, Xu Yan's exceptional comprehension allowed him to genuinely sense Blood Essence and establish a Martial Dao path from his master's vague instructions. 3 4 29

Xu Yan interpreted even mundane chores as part of cultivation. Cooking, feeding chickens, growing vegetables, and hunting improved his state of mind, helping him reach Skin Tempering Great Success. 4 5

After growing stronger, he returned to teach his parents, Apothecary Pan, and the Xu family's core guards the foundational methods of sensing Blood Essence, Skin Tempering, Bone Refining, and Viscera Refining. He deliberately withheld the more advanced Qi and Blood Realm techniques. 66

Appearance

Xu Yan is described as a handsome, refined young man. Portraits of him commonly depict a sword-wielding youth, and his bearing is closely associated with his reputation as the Sword God. 258 451

• Carries himself with a composed and confident demeanor. 300 396
• Commonly fights with a sword and manifests mountains-and-rivers imagery through his Sword Dao. 187 355
• Was recognized by a portrait circulated through the Heavenly Fiend Earth Shadow Organization's bounty notices. 451

Personality

Xu Yan is intensely diligent and highly self-motivated. He cultivates patiently when necessary, but prefers to temper his foundation through real combat rather than relying only on spiritual medicines and treasures. 8 166 288

He possesses exceptional confidence and a blunt, confrontational manner toward enemies. Xu Yan rejects the accusation that he is merely arrogant, considering his statements to be justified by his strength. 300 312

Despite his fame, he remains devoted to Li Xuan and accepts the responsibilities of an eldest disciple. He teaches his family, guides junior disciples and allies, and explains Martial Dao principles when his master does not need to intervene personally. 66 163 243 379

Xu Yan is also practical regarding wealth and resources. He collects bounties, demands compensation when appropriate, and considers valuable items such as Spirit Crystals, Spirit Tickets, and Storage Bags worthwhile rewards. 123 136 158 159

Abilities & Skills

Orthodox Martial Dao

Xu Yan practices Li Xuan's orthodox Martial Dao. His cultivation emphasizes a pure Martial Dao foundation, Blood Essence, True Qi, True Essence, Sword Dao, and continual self-transformation. 65 187 357

• Opened the Heaven and Earth Bridge and cultivated Innate True Qi through the Dantian Sea of Qi. 66 87
• Possesses Golden Bone, later evolving through Spirit Bone and the Mountain River Spiritual Body. 19 187
• Transformed into the Mountain River Divine Body at Spirit Origin and the Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers Dao Body at Void Breaking. 309 445
• Is regarded by Li Xuan as the disciple most likely to forge an independent and unparalleled Martial Dao path. 163 357 379

Sword Dao

Xu Yan's Sword Dao developed from Clear Sword Heart into Mountain River Sword Intent, then through the Heart Sword and Wisdom Sword realms. 87 129 243 384

• Mountain River Sword Intent — manifests mountains, rivers, coiled dragons, and living scenery within his sword intent. 87 187
• Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers — his continued interpretation of the Mountain River Sword Intent through experiences and state-of-mind tempering. 129
• Xun Feng Sword Intent — a subtle, pervasive sword intent with extreme killing power; Xu Yan used it to kill the Martial Dao Heavenly Human Jiao Ming in three strikes. 194 195 208
• Heart Sword Realm — lets sword light arrange itself according to internal patterns and order. 243
• Wisdom Sword Realm — the third known Sword Dao realm he reached after perfecting Heart Sword. 355 384

Life and Death Sword Wheel

Xu Yan comprehended the Life and Death Sword Wheel upon entering the Profound Understanding Realm. 187

• The Sword of Life is defensive, while the Sword of Death is offensive. 187
• The two swords can interchange instantly, producing unpredictable cycles of life and death. 187
• Its later principles formed the basis of the Yin Yang Undying Sword supernatural ability. 355

Dragon Subduing Palm

Li Xuan taught Xu Yan that the Dragon Subduing Palm subdues both a dragon's body and heart, using the principle of “fighting poison with poison.” 34

• Generates fierce palm force after Xu Yan comprehended its fundamental intent. 34
• Reached its fourth level upon his Profound Understanding breakthrough. 187
• Advanced to the fifth, sixth, and seventh levels as his cultivation progressed. 243 309 384
• Subdued the true dragon Ao Yuxue and placed a Dragon Subduing Mark on her. 479

Supernatural Abilities

Xu Yan manifested five supernatural abilities when he entered the Supernatural Ability Realm. 355 356

• Sword Mountain River — transforms the surrounding area into a domain of mountains and rivers centered on Xu Yan's Sword Dao. 355
• Yin Yang Undying Sword — redirects enemy attacks, strengthens Xu Yan's attacks, stores opposing force for retaliation, and maintains a self-cycling defense. 355
• Heaven Severing Sword — a Sword Dao supernatural ability focused on overwhelming killing power. 355
• True Dragon's Wrath — one of his manifested supernatural abilities, used alongside Sword Mountain River and Heaven Severing Sword in battle. 355 369
• One Thought No Trace — a speed-based ability derived from his Heavenly Thunder Flash movement technique. 356
• Heavenly Will Calming Spirit — fixes and controls an enemy's spirit; Xu Yan used it to turn the assassin Shen Kui against the Heavenly Fiend Earth Shadow Organization. 394

Concealment and Special Techniques

• Harmony of Light and Dust Technique — conceals his presence while evading pursuit by the Jade God Sect and Su Family. 232
• Divine Annihilation Style — obtained after he killed a Spirit Refining Heavenly Human in the Spirit Domain. 241
• Lesser Eye of the Heavenly Dao — a profound technique that strengthens his ability to perceive and affect an enemy's spirit when paired with Heavenly Will Calming Spirit. 393 394
• Ten Directions Annihilation Sword — used to overwhelm twenty Immortal Celestial Venerables who ambushed him in the Azure Sea Realm. 453

Equipment

• Tongming Sword — a divine essence sword Xu Yan nurtures within his body. 314
• Spirit Artifact sword — a sword forged by Fang Hao that Xu Yan wielded against the Thousand Martial Hall's Divine Artifact. 314
• Cold Absolute Blade — the Thousand Martial Hall's Divine Artifact, which Xu Yan successfully stole. 315
• Primordial Turtle Shell — contains a small internal dimension; Xu Yan used it to shelter Ao Yuxue and store objects. 479 561

Relationships

• Li Xuan — Master and founder of Xu Yan's Martial Dao path. Xu Yan reveres him deeply, while Li Xuan considers him his Martial Dao pioneer and most exceptional disciple. 3 100 163
• Meng Chong — Junior brother and frequent sparring partner. Their differing Martial Dao paths allow them to exchange insights through combat. 65 87 357
• Su Lingxiu — Junior sister. Xu Yan provides guidance on Martial Dao cultivation and Blood Essence control to support her Medicinal Dao. 100 101 135
• Xie Lingfeng — Friend and Sword Dao peer. Xu Yan initially used Xie Lingfeng's name to intimidate enemies, then later guided him toward Sword Intent. 123 144 243
• Du Yuying — Ally whom Xu Yan escorted through the Inner Domain. She repeatedly repaid him with Spirit Crystals, Spiritual Medicines, and other gifts, and later sought his aid at the Heavenly Human's Tomb. 123 158 196
• Xu Junhe — Father. Xu Yan taught him Martial Dao cultivation, and later guided him toward the Divine Intent Realm. 66 359
• Mother Xu — Mother. Xu Yan supplied her with cultivation resources and instructed her alongside his father after returning to Canglan Island. 66 359 361
• Yu Xiaolong — Jade Crystal Snake spirit beast and traveling companion. Xu Yan brought Yu Xiaolong from the Spirit Domain and later guided its Great Demon Martial Dao studies. 241 242
• Ao Yuxue — Jade-white true dragon subdued by Xu Yan's Dragon Subduing Palm. He protected her from other powerhouses after placing her under his protection. 479
• Yue'er — Ally who publicly warned Xu Yan that the Thousand Martial Hall intended to send a supreme expert after him. 283

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early cultivation and the Qi Kingdom

Xu Yan became Li Xuan's first disciple and achieved genuine cultivation from his master's fabricated teachings. He rapidly progressed from sensing Blood Essence to Golden Bone, then entered the Qi and Blood Realm through his own interpretation of the method. 3 4 19 29

He demonstrated the gulf between his Martial Dao and ordinary Jianghu martial arts by killing a first-rate expert with one punch. 18

Inner Domain rise

After entering the Inner Domain, Xu Yan used Xie Lingfeng's name to intimidate Yin Hong before openly declaring himself “Sword God Xu Yan.” 123 144

His victories over Grandmasters and Peak Grandmasters made him the Inner Domain's foremost prodigy. At Canglan Island, he killed three Peak Grandmasters and established the reputation of Sword God Xu Yan. 136 160 177

Spirit Domain and the Thousand Martial Hall

Xu Yan entered the Spirit Domain by crossing the Endless Mountains and began challenging its sects, families, and prodigies. 116 232

He treated the Thousand Martial Hall's prodigies as stepping stones on his path, destroyed opponents in the Battle of Heavenly Prodigies, and stole the sect's Cold Absolute Blade. 300 312 315

Qinghua and Divine Realm campaigns

Xu Yan continued to expand his Sword Dao in the Qinghua Realm, killing enemies from the Netherworld Prison and reaching the Wisdom Sword Realm. 384

In the Divine Realm, he subdued Ao Yuxue, resisted the Bewitching Witch and Duo Wu, entered the Heaven and Earth Realm, and fought twenty Immortal Celestial Venerables in the Azure Sea Realm. 433 445 479 494

Notable Quotes

“Arrogance is the impression ignorant people have of me. I, Xu Yan, am never arrogant; I let my strength speak for itself.” 300

“Listen well, I go by no other name and have no other surname. I am Sword God Xu Yan!” 396

“My name, Sword God Xu Yan, will one day resound throughout the heavens and earth.” 312