Earth Rock Rat

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Earth Rock Rat (地岩鼠)
Alias(es)	Di Yan Jun; “Little Mouse”
Species/Race	Earth Rock Rat / Rat Demon
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lan Chang'an's contracted spirit pet; later the Cloud Glow Sect's Sacred Beast 23 356
Occupation/Role	Scout, tracker, subterranean ambusher, combat spirit pet
Status	Active; Tier 4 Transformation Demon King 355 507
First Appearance	Chapter 20

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First-Order Mid-Stage	23	Initially a Mid Grade Bloodline rat demon, equivalent to a Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivator; acquired by Lu Chang'an through Ge Yi's Beast Taming Token.
Second-Order Early Stage	74	Survived a dangerous Second-Order Earth Spirit Pill with Lan Chang'an's life-consuming healing assistance. Its bloodline mutated from the upper Mid Grade into High Grade, greatly improving speed, reactions, offense, and Earth Escape.
Peak Second-Order	217	Its aura is identified as that of a peak second-rank demon beast.
Third-Order / Great Demon	231	Successfully formed an upper-tier True Core under Lan Chang'an's protection, becoming a third-order great demon.
Third-Order Mid-Stage	284	Advanced secretly in the Beast Taming Zhou Family's Black Mist Mountain Range territory.
Third-Order Late Stage	315	Broke through after tempering itself; its Half-Step Golden Core-quality core gave it pressure exceeding that of an ordinary newly advanced late-third-rank demon.
Peak Late Third-Order	345	Reached the foundation required to attempt transformation, then sought resources suited to its earth attribute and bloodline.
Tier 4 Transformation Demon King	355	Endured six heavenly lightning strikes and the Inner Demon Tribulation, becoming a Tier 4 Demon King.
Daoist Title: Di Yan Jun	356	Consolidated its realm, gained partial human transformation, and became Cloud Glow Sect's Sacred Beast.

Background

The Earth Rock Rat first served as Ge Yi's attack beast during the conflict with Lu Chang'an and Mu Xiuyun. Lu restrained it with the Binding Vine Technique; after Ge Yi's death, Lu recovered the Beast Taming Token that could communicate simple commands and determine the rat's life or death. Initially frightened of the token, it was ordered to remain underground around Lu's residence and was fed First-Order pills. 20 23

Lu initially regarded it as practical spoils of war rather than a companion on the level of his personally raised Mystic Water Turtle. Nevertheless, he invested steadily in its cultivation, including spirit fruits, spiritual medicines, and a highly dangerous Earth Spirit Pill. When that pill nearly killed the rat during its Second-Order breakthrough, Lu expended two months of lifespan through a secret healing technique to save it. 33 49 74

The breakthrough altered the rat's bloodline and established its role as a serious combat partner. It accompanied Lan Chang'an in the Black Mist Mountain Range, participated in hunts against Second-Order beasts, detected the White Jade Python's trail, and helped seal its cave during an ambush. 74 78

Over more than a century, the Earth Rock Rat developed from an obedient underground guard into Lan Chang'an's most dependable spirit pet. It formed an upper-tier True Core, declined recruitment by a third-order Bear Demon, and repeatedly served as a scout, assassin, bodyguard, and collector of spoils. 231 233 239 255

Appearance

The Earth Rock Rat's appearance changed drastically as its realm and bloodline improved.

• Original form — A large brownish-yellow rat demon with red-tinged eyes. 23
• After Second-Order mutation — A streamlined, cheetah-like body; orange-yellow fur marked with pale purple patches. 74
• Third-Order form — Nearly two zhang long, muscular and leopard-like, with orange-yellow fur, brownish-red eyes, and an upright tuft of purple head fur. 232
• Transformed form — Retains a rat-like head and limbs beneath dark rock-colored fur while using the physique of an ordinary person. 356

Personality

The Earth Rock Rat is intensely food-motivated, fond of spiritual fruits, pills, and valuable spoils. It can be greedy enough to secretly retain resources or kill an additional target for cultivation supplies, though it still returns the important gains to Lan Chang'an. 33 229 240

It is playful, mischievous, and eager for companionship with other rat demons. It treated Lan Chang'an's rat puppet as a possible playmate, enjoyed its time among the Beast Taming Zhou Family's rat demons, and later became overly attached to Li Congren's Treasure Seeking Rat. 203 263 264

Despite this unruly side, it is loyal and courageous. It refused a third-order Bear Demon's recruitment attempt, volunteered its own demon core as bait against the Demonized Stone-Heart Dragon, and remained publicly deferential to Lan Chang'an even after becoming a Demon King. 233 350 356

Abilities & Skills

Earth Affinity and Earth Escape

The Earth Rock Rat is an earth-attributed demon beast naturally suited to underground movement and earth-element techniques.

• Digs, burrows, and ambushes effectively from beneath the ground. 23 54
• Gained genuine Earth Escape after reaching Second Order. 74
• Can travel underground smoothly enough to carry people after forming its core. 233
• Uses terrain and deep rock layers to evade detection and reduce incoming damage. 235 329
• Can create earth spikes, earthen walls, tunnels, cave collapses, and imprisoning earth-element spells. 77 78 255

Scent, Tracking, and Detection

Its enhanced senses make it especially valuable in environments that hinder cultivators' divine sense.

• Tracks beasts and detects danger through scent in the Black Mist Mountain Range. 77 78
• Located a hidden, divine-sense-shielding material inside an ancient ruin wall. 207
• Monitored Yu Qin's movements in exhaustive detail while Lan Chang'an was away. 239
• Serves with the Flying Rat King as part of Lan Chang'an's tracking and intelligence network. 507

Physical Combat

Its mutated bloodline combines the sturdy body of an Earth Rock Rat with unusual speed and close-range lethality.

• Possesses thick skin, tough flesh, and high defensive ability. 23 74
• Became notably faster, more agile, and more dangerous in close combat after its Second-Order mutation. 74 120
• Uses claws for lethal surprise attacks, including the killing of a Qi Refining eighth-layer cultivator and the assassination of Old Ghost Wu. 54 255
• Can form crystal-yellow stone armor and withstand powerful attacks while shielding Lan Chang'an. 318
• Its Earth Sha Demon Wind, earth spells, concealment, and close-combat strength improved further after absorbing Innate Turbid Qi. 316 350

Demon Core and Transformation

The Earth Rock Rat's cultivation potential rose far beyond that of an ordinary member of its species.

• Its Second-Order breakthrough elevated its bloodline into the High Grade range. 74
• The Blood Spirit Pool further improved and stabilized its bloodline at approximately the middle tier of High Grade. 203
• Absorption of Five Elements Soil containing Innate Turbid Qi raised its quality to roughly an Earth Grade Bloodline. 341 352
• Formed an upper-tier True Core and gained deeper inherited knowledge of its innate spells. 231 233
• Endured heavenly lightning and an Inner Demon Tribulation to become a Tier 4 Transformation Demon King. 355
• Can assume a partially human form but prefers to retain visible rat-like traits. 356

Limitations

• Its ordinary species lineage originally imposed limited late-stage potential; an Earth Rock Rat becoming a Tier 4 Demon King is described as unprecedented in Great Qing and the Great Abyss. 356
• Earth Escape and ambush tactics are ineffective against opponents with overwhelming perception and Nascent Soul-level power. 325 329
• Its transformation brought greater strength but also made it a target for powerful enemies, including the Crimson Nether Snake King. 356

Key Resources

• Beast Taming Token — Originally allowed Lu Chang'an to issue simple mental commands and control the rat's life or death. 23
• Second-Order Earth Spirit Pill — Caused its dangerous but successful Second-Order breakthrough and bloodline mutation. 74
• Black Blood Lotus Seed — Slightly improved and stabilized its High Grade Bloodline. 119 120
• Mysterious Yellow Crystal — A superior Golden Core spiritual object that the rat secretly obtained and presented for its own core formation. 229
• Five Elements Soil — An earth-attributed spiritual treasure that strongly suited its core formation and later development. 230
• Stone Dragon Heart and Essence Spirit Great Pill — Obtained from the Demonized Stone-Heart Dragon; crucial resources for its transformation attempt. 351 352
• Thunder Transformation Bead — Used strategically during its Tier 4 lightning tribulation. 355
• Mystic Heart Beast Pill — Its primary heart-tribulation resource during transformation. 354

Relationships

• Lan Chang'an / Lu Chang'an — Master and contracted spirit pet. Lan saved it during its Second-Order breakthrough, prepared its major advancements, and acts as its guardian; the rat remains deeply loyal despite reaching Tier 4. 74 233 350 356
• Zhou Qingxuan — Her Beast Taming Zhou Family was likely the Earth Rock Rat's original source. She supplied the problematic Earth Spirit Pill and later arranged its Blood Spirit Pool baptism. 23 74 202
• Mystic Water Turtle — Fellow spirit pet and occasional rival. The rat attacked it in anger after it absorbed most of the Innate Turbid Qi, but the turtle later helped heal Di Yan Jun's tribulation injuries. 315 356
• Third-Order Bear Demon — Attempted to befriend and recruit the Earth Rock Rat after its core formation; the rat declined. 232 233
• Treasure Seeking Rat — Li Congren's spirit rat. The Earth Rock Rat became strongly attached to it and intimidated it through its overwhelming cultivation pressure. 264
• Flying Rat King — Fellow Rat Demon and subordinate within Lan Chang'an's sea-region intelligence network; the two jointly scout and track sea-beast Demon Kings. 500 507

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ge Yi Conflict and Capture

Used by Ge Yi as an underground attacker, the Earth Rock Rat was restrained by Lu Chang'an and subsequently brought under his control through the recovered Beast Taming Token. 20 23

Black Mist Mountain Range Hunts

After reaching Second Order, it became a core member of Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao's hunting team. It tracked prey, assisted in killing Second-Order beasts, discovered the White Jade Python, and collapsed the python's cave during their ambush. 78

Core Formation

Lan Chang'an prioritized the rat's advancement before his own. With the Baleful Origin Pill, Five Elements Soil, a special spiritual vein, and layered restrictions, the Earth Rock Rat formed an upper-tier True Core despite interference from True Person Huxiao and the threat of a third-order Bear Demon. 228 230 231

Assassination and Reconnaissance Work

As a Third-Order great demon, it surveilled Yu Qin, independently eliminated an additional merchant-association official for resources, and assassinated Old Ghost Wu through an underground ambush with poisoned claws. 239 240 255

Hunt for the Demonized Stone-Heart Dragon

Seeking an opportunity to transform, it willingly exposed its peak Tier 3 demon core to lure the Stone-Heart Dragon into Jing Wufeng's formation. During the battle, it bound the dragon's tail with a magic-treasure chain and expended essence blood to increase its strength. 350

Transformation into Di Yan Jun

Using the Stone Dragon Heart, Essence Spirit Great Pill, Thunder Transformation Bead, Five Elements Soil, and Mystic Heart Beast Pill, it overcame the transformation process and sixfold heavenly tribulation. Its success made it a Tier 4 Demon King and substantially elevated Lan Chang'an's position within the Cloud Glow Sect. 354 355 356

Heavenly Star Sea Operations

As Di Yan Jun, it assists Lan Chang'an and the Flying Rat King in locating powerful sea beasts. It received Dragon Essence Great Elixir after helping lead Lan Chang'an to the Tier 4 Dragon Lizard and later helped track the Giant Shark King's hidden nest. 500 507

Notable Quotes

“Master did not hesitate to take risks to strive for Little Mouse's transformation opportunity. Little Mouse naturally must contribute his share.” 350

“Little Mouse, ‘Di Yan Jun,’ thanks Master for the Guardian Talisman.” 356

Trivia

• Earth Rock Rats normally possess only Mid Grade Bloodlines and are considered useful early-stage spirit beasts with poor later-stage potential. Di Yan Jun's rise to Tier 4 is described as without precedent. 23 356
• The Earth Rock Rat's bloodline mutation began with a flawed pill that was expected to be more likely fatal than beneficial. 74
• It dislikes being treated as weak and once bared its teeth at Li Congren despite being told to behave. 217
• Before gaining human speech, it could already understand human language but generally preferred not to communicate in it. 350