Yuan Qi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yuan Qi (蚖七)
Alias(es)	Little Seven; Little Qi; Seventh Master; Niu Yuan Qi; Snake Demon
Species/Race	Snake demon; ancient Yuan Snake bloodline
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xu Ying's companions; Mount Wu Wang
Occupation/Role	Demon cultivator, Xu Ying's companion, and keeper of the group's stored treasures
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist practitioner	9	Used his thirty-foot body as fists and feet, driving back willow branches through the fist technique before Ding Quan wounded him.
Demon King; Realm of Serenity; Five Qi Towards Origin	28	During an attempted human transformation, he reached the seventh level of the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist, became a Demon King, developed divine sense, entered the Realm of Serenity, and completed Five Qi Towards Origin.
Ni Wan Secret Treasury — paired Dragon-and-Snake Cave Heavens	97	His incorrectly opened first Cave Heaven was joined by a second opened with Xu Ying's assistance. The intertwined Cave Heavens draw Longevity Qi from the Sea of Chaos at exceptional speed.
Second Knock on the Gate Stage	317	Having opened the Ni Wan Palace through the Ancestral Method, he formally identified himself as a Second Knock on the Gate Stage Qi Refiner.

Background

Yuan Qi fought beside Xu Ying from their earliest encounters. He used the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist against Ding Quan, but was repeatedly wounded; later, while pinned down during Xu Ying's battle with Yang Xiangong, he warned Xu Ying about the deity's Incense Qi flying swords and endured further injuries. Xu Ying subsequently sought herbs and brewed medicine to save him. 9 12 13 15

Qin Yan Cave was Yuan Qi's home. When Mount Wu Wang changed, the cave expanded into a vast, unfamiliar network, but Yuan Qi still led Xu Ying through it. There, he sensed the onset of metamorphosis and secluded himself to shed his skin. 20 21

His metamorphosis did not produce the human form he expected. Instead, he emerged as a huge horned snake with a childlike voice, gaining the cultivation of a Demon King, the Realm of Serenity, and Five Qi Towards Origin. His Elephant King Divine Body proved too small to contain his greatly increased Blood Essence, prompting Xu Ying to judge the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist unsuitable for his new body. 28

Seeking a better path, Yuan Qi persistently requested a simpler cultivation method from an immortal lecturer and received the Dragon Snake Awakening Technique and True Cultivation of the Flood Dragon. Xu Ying later explained these methods to him and taught him the origin-nourishment Daoist sounds of the Great Yin Origin Nourishing Technique. 36 42 52

With Xu Ying's help, Yuan Qi opened a unique Ni Wan Secret Treasury consisting of entwined dragon and snake Cave Heavens. He continued to develop as a Qi Refiner, eventually opening the Ni Wan Palace through the Ancestral Method and reaching the Second Knock on the Gate Stage. 97 317

He was later afflicted by the Imprison seal, which locked down his soul, senses, cultivation, and divine sense. Though released, the rune continued to disrupt his memories intermittently until Xu Ying began helping him break the seal. 168 171 276

Appearance

Yuan Qi is a colossal snake demon whose body grew enormously as his cultivation advanced. Following his failed human metamorphosis, he retained a serpentine form rather than becoming human. 28 317

• Originally possessed a body roughly thirty feet long. 9
• Developed one black and one white dragon horn at the back of his head. 28 45
• Has mirror-like scales and a flowing mane behind his head. 28 45
• Can conceal most of his immense body within clouds and mist. 317
• His horns generate Yin and Yang Qi that form a Taiji diagram. 302 317
• His voice became clear and childlike after metamorphosis. 28

Personality

Yuan Qi is loyal to Xu Ying, although fear can overwhelm his courage. He tried to defend Xu Ying against the Great Bronze Bell but backed down when intimidated; in battle, however, he continued warning Xu Ying about threats even while badly injured. 11 12

He is proud, sensitive about his standing, and quick to compete. After metamorphosis, he objected to being called merely the seventh most venomous snake in the world, insisting he had risen into the top three. He also worried that self-made Demon Kings such as Niu Zhen and Niu Gan might be smarter than him. 28 87

Despite his vanity, Yuan Qi is learned and observant. He recognizes historical figures and cultivation practices, reads extensively, quotes literary allusions, and eagerly studies ancient texts. 19 68 103 He is also deeply protective of Xu Ying, joining the Great Bell in risking a strike against Xu Ying to break the Emperor Lord's curse. 475

Abilities & Skills

Demon King Physiology

Yuan Qi possesses an ancient Yuan Snake bloodline and a body capable of immense size, powerful Blood Essence, venomous fog, and wind-and-thunder manipulation. 75 317

• Exhales clouds and mist while awakening the aura of an ancient Yuan Snake. 75
• Produces poisonous gas and can use his massive body and tail as weapons. 28
• Forms a Taiji diagram from the Yin and Yang Qi generated by his horns. 302 317
• Can shrink his body, though he finds remaining at a smaller size uncomfortable. 317

Dragon Snake Cultivation

The Dragon Snake Awakening Technique and True Cultivation of the Flood Dragon were tailored to Yuan Qi after he could not understand a more complex immortal technique. 36

• Absorbs Dao Seeds released during Xu Ying's cultivation, greatly accelerating his progress. 75
• Awakens and strengthens his ancient Yuan Snake bloodline. 75
• Learned the origin-nourishment Daoist sounds of the Great Yin Origin Nourishing Technique from Xu Ying, though he may not be able to master it completely. 52

Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist

Before his metamorphosis, Yuan Qi used his long body as an extension of the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist. 9

• Reached the technique's seventh level during his metamorphosis. 28
• Manifested an Elephant King Divine Body and could match Xu Ying's punch with a tail strike. 28
• The technique later became restrictive because its Divine Body could not contain all of his Blood Essence. 28

Divine Sense and Cave Heavens

Yuan Qi cultivated divine sense, entered the Realm of Serenity, and established an unusually solid Ni Wan foundation. 28 97

• His intertwined dragon-and-snake Cave Heavens draw Longevity Qi from the Sea of Chaos faster than Xu Ying's. 97
• Can construct a Realm of Serenity using Magic Treasures and Incense Qi. 165
• Used the constructed Realm to mobilize the terrifying Magic Power of the Imperial Tomb's Twelve Golden Figures. 165

Swordsmanship

Yuan Qi asked Xu Ying to teach him swordsmanship and received instruction through Xu Ying's Sword Box. 87

• Has studied sword-nurturing traditions and can explain their use of Sword Qi and Sword Boxes. 68
• His sword training remains secondary to his serpentine cultivation and Magic Treasure use. 87

Magic Treasure Refinement

Zhu Chanchán identified Yuan Qi as having the characteristics of a Magic Treasure. 111

• Refined his stomach and intestines into a storage Magic Treasure. 96
• Carries books, cultivation materials, and large quantities of Magic Treasures within his body. 96 246
• After guidance from Daoist Taiqing, rapidly improved his control of the Vajra Pestle and drew out its divine abilities. 388
• The Vajra Pestle's Yin-Yang Taiji diagram can capture people and objects. 388

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Vajra Pestle — A refined Magic Treasure containing Yin-Yang power and a variable Taiji diagram. 388
• Stored Magic Treasures — Yuan Qi keeps an extensive array of treasures within his treasure-refined stomach. 96 246
• Books and cultivation texts — He safeguards Xu Ying's valuable manuals by swallowing and storing them. 96
• Green paper umbrella — Taken from the sorrowful old man's table in Qin Yan Cave. 41
• Half of the Purple Netherworld Saber — Concealed in his belly with the Great Bell; used in their attempt to break the Emperor Lord's curse on Xu Ying. 475

Relationships

• Xu Ying — Closest companion and fellow traveler. Xu Ying repeatedly guides Yuan Qi's cultivation, treats his injuries, helps open his second Cave Heaven, and teaches him techniques; Yuan Qi in turn protects and worries over Xu Ying. 13 42 87 97 475
• Great Bronze Bell — Frequent sparring partner and argumentative friend. Yuan Qi initially feared the Bell, but the two became close enough to cultivate, fight, and undertake dangerous plans together. 11 28 52 475
• Zhu Chanchán — Artifact-refining mentor and ally. She refined and healed Yuan Qi, recognized his Magic Treasure-like qualities, and later continued refining him and the Great Bell. 111 317
• Jin Buyi — Demon Emperor whom Yuan Qi followed to the Demon Race's Ancestral Court. Yuan Qi publicly carried Jin Buyi toward the Fusang Tree while leading the cry of “Emperor! Jin Buyi!” 475 498
• Ling Siyi — Wife. Yuan Qi later had five little Yuan Snakes with her. 739

Notable Quotes

“Before my transformation, I was fifth in the world. How could I be seventh after transforming? I'm at least in the top three now!” 28

“Justice may be late, but it will never be absent.” 81

Trivia

• Yuan Qi has read for more than a century and can readily cite literary allusions. 103
• From the neck down, much of his body functions as an enormous stomach used to store possessions. 96
• He once wondered whether possessing a Ni Wan Secret Treasury meant he was actually human transformed into a snake. 44
• His human-form metamorphosis instead produced horns, a mane, and a childlike voice. 28