Ling Taichu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ling Taichu (凌太初)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tianlan Sect
Occupation/Role	Tianlan Sect True Monarch; master of Fang Xiao; later a leader within the sect
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 36

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Nascent Soul	145	Having avenged his Dao companion and resolved his inner demons, he overcame the heart-demon tribulation and prepared for Deity Transformation.
Deity Transformation True Monarch	146	Passed the lightning tribulation by manifesting the Jianmu Dharma Aspect and fighting directly within the tribulation clouds.
Sword Breaks Myriad Laws	146 785	His Sword Dao had reached this realm by his Deity Transformation tribulation; he continued to deepen it through steady accumulation.
Late Deity Transformation	920	Confirmed after awakening from the Seven Souls Sealing Soul Curse.
Myriad Laws Born from the Sword	833 920	Broke through amid the confrontation with Xuan Zhongtian; this Sword Dao realm is noted as difficult even for many Void Refining sword cultivators to attain.
Fifth-tier Martial Dao	1011	Passed the Heavenly Sword Mountain inheritance trial, cultivated the Myriad Victory Profound Sword Art, and forged the Sword Soul known as the Longevity Sword.

Background / History

Ling Taichu was a Tianlan Sect prodigy with exceptional aptitude and a Wood Heavenly Spiritual Root enhanced through later opportunities. In his youth, he was arrogant and repeatedly clashed with Luo Yunsheng, a jealous Luo-family cultivator supported by Qin Qing's connections. While Ling Taichu was at Core Formation, Luo Yunsheng arranged the murder of Ling Taichu's Dao companion to destroy his Dao heart. Ling Taichu eventually tracked Luo Yunsheng to the Central Plains and annihilated him in revenge. 145

Although he reached peak Nascent Soul, the unresolved loss of his Dao companion remained a heart knot that made a Deity Transformation heart-demon tribulation impossible to overcome. After taking revenge, he resolved this obstacle and immediately undertook his breakthrough. 145

He accepted Fang Xiao as his personal disciple at Heavenly Outer Peak, granting him the Taibai Soaring Sword Canon, two jade slips, and a sword token. Ling Taichu also advised Fang Xiao on the Five Qi Cultivating Immortal Scripture and the Five Qi Returning to Origin Method. 36 37

Appearance

Ling Taichu initially presents a youthful appearance whose demeanor seems mismatched with his age and standing. 91

• Often sits on the Dao platform in Heavenly Outer Peak's main hall. 95 311
• His Jianmu Dharma Aspect manifests as a colossal green divine tree connecting heaven and earth. 146
• His later Martial Soul manifests as the immense sword shadow known as the Longevity Sword. 1011

Personality

Ling Taichu is outwardly casual with his disciple, telling Fang Xiao not to be overly formal, but he is attentive and generous in practical matters. He provides cultivation guidance, rewards, protective items, and political support without demanding recognition. 36 89 95 311

In cultivation, he follows a restrained “sheathed sword” path: he prioritizes stable foundations and perfection at each realm over rapid advancement. Though less aggressively competitive than Fang Xiao, his understanding of the Sword Dao remains exceptionally deep. 785

He is pragmatic in sect affairs. He places Tianlan Sect's interests above personal grudges, supports necessary compromises, and urges Fang Xiao to learn to manage sect responsibilities. 346 746

Abilities & Skills

Sword Dao

Ling Taichu is an elite sword cultivator whose Sword Dao emphasizes accumulated understanding, decisive offense, and stable foundations.

• Reached Sword Breaks Myriad Laws by the time of his Deity Transformation tribulation. 146 785
• Later attained Myriad Laws Born from the Sword, despite this being a realm many Void Refining sword cultivators never reach. 833 920
• During his Deity Transformation tribulation, used an extreme-point application of Body Integration with Sword to meet the final lightning strike. 146
• His sword intent was judged profound and pure by Xuan Zhongtian. 822

Jianmu Dharma Aspect

A defensive Wood-attribute Dharma Aspect created by integrating multiple Wood-attribute Divine Abilities.

• Manifests the image of Jianmu, shielding him with a green light barrier that initially withstood thousands of lightning strikes. 146
• Can contract around his body and combine with his sword techniques in battle. 146
• Used to seal Sun Devouring Mastiff Demonic Contamination within twelve flowers and fruits. 463
• Its weakness is that it consumes and diminishes when facing attacks beyond its endurance; Ling Taichu regarded it as his principal defensive method. 146 472

Myriad Victory Profound Sword Art

After passing the Heavenly Sword Mountain inheritance trial, Ling Taichu began dual cultivating the Myriad Victory Profound Sword Art. 1010

• Allows postnatal cultivation of a special Sword Dao soul-body trait rather than an ordinary innate physique. 1012
• Produced a nascent Sword Dao Physique associated primarily with his Divine Soul. 1012
• Supports his Martial Dao cultivation and pursuit of the Heavenly Sword Mountain inheritance. 1010 1011

Longevity Sword

Ling Taichu's unique Sword Soul, forged upon reaching the fifth-tier Martial Dao realm. 1011

• Its sword shadow is immense and carries an oppressive, heaven-collapsing presence. 1011
• Remains incomplete; Ling Taichu intends to integrate multiple True Meanings of the Divine Tree into it. 1012
• Its development is tied to his special Divine Soul trait and the Myriad Victory Profound Sword Art. 1012

Cultivation Guidance and Strategy

Ling Taichu is knowledgeable about the techniques and secret arts of numerous sects and serves as Fang Xiao's principal Sword Dao mentor. 37 317

• Taught Fang Xiao to improve through observation, practice, combat, and applying what he learned. 317
• Gave Fang Xiao a spiritual imprint containing sword principles to aid his Sword Dao progress. 317
• Analyzed Fang Xiao's needs through six areas: Sword Dao, Divine Abilities, magic treasures, cultivation, bottlenecks, and lightning tribulations. 347
• Shared Fang Xiao's improved Great Yin-Yang Five Elements Heavenly Heart Art to help Tianlan Sect cultivators connect with the Heaven and Earth Dao Track. 594
• Led the proposal to swiftly invade the Tian Luo Realm and divide conquered territory among the participating Taichang cultivators. 819

Equipment / Items

• Natal Magic Sword — Used in his Deity Transformation tribulation and with Body Integration with Sword. 146
• Qing Feng — His sword artifact, which later gains a human form and remains loyal while Ling Taichu is cursed. 919
• Sword talisman — Given to Fang Xiao before his North Sea journey; contains three strikes of Ling Taichu's power. 95
• Jade talisman — An unidentified item he obtained from an Ice Soul Sect disciple in the Extreme North Ice Plains and entrusted to Fang Xiao. 95
• Ancient wood fragment — Selected from Tianlan Sect's treasury when he ranked first in the True Inheritance selection; believed to be connected to his Jianmu Dharma Aspect. 146

Relationships

• Fang Xiao — Personal disciple. Ling Taichu accepts and supports Fang Xiao from his Qi Condensation period onward, provides guidance and protection, and later relies on Fang Xiao's help after being cursed and left behind in cultivation. 36 95 317 920
• Qing Feng — Natal sword artifact. Qing Feng guards Ling Taichu during his thousand-year curse and assists Fang Xiao once a cure is found. 95 919
• Luo Yunsheng — Enemy. Luo orchestrated the murder of Ling Taichu's Dao companion; Ling Taichu later tracked and annihilated him. 145
• Li Mobai — Fellow Tianlan Sect Deity Transformation cultivator and ally. Li Mobai supported Ling Taichu's breakthrough and often coordinates sect strategy with him. 145 146 346
• Qin Qing — Fellow Tianlan Sect Deity Transformation cultivator. She resented Ling Taichu for killing her grand-nephew Luo Yunsheng, but Li Mobai persuaded her not to pursue the matter. 145
• Yuan Chen — Tianlan Sect junior supported by Ling Taichu after Fang Xiao brought him into the sect; Ling Taichu later summoned him during the Ruins of the Underworld crisis. 311 784
• Xuan Zhongtian — Captor. The half-step Void Refining cultivator immobilized Ling Taichu, used him to force Fang Xiao's appearance, and indirectly caused his later curse. 822 833 836

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fang Xiao's Master

Ling Taichu accepts Fang Xiao as his personal disciple and equips him for the Taibai Ruins, North Sea travels, and later cultivation. He rewards Fang Xiao's achievements, offers direct access to sect resources, and provides continuing Sword Dao instruction. 36 89 95 317

Deity Transformation Tribulation

After avenging his Dao companion and resolving his heart knot, Ling Taichu undergoes Deity Transformation in a grotto-heaven. He confronts the tribulation offensively, manifests Jianmu to defend himself, and finally survives the last strike through a concentrated sword technique. 145 146

Tianlan Sect Leadership

As a Deity Transformation True Monarch, Ling Taichu participates in Tianlan Sect's internal decisions, the war against hostile sects, and later plans for the Five Elements Sect and Tian Luo Realm. He consistently balances Fang Xiao's proposals with the sect's broader interests. 311 346 356 819

Capture and Curse

Xuan Zhongtian captures Ling Taichu in Tianya Prefecture to lure Fang Xiao out. After Fang Xiao retrieves him, Ling Taichu abruptly attacks using Myriad Laws Born from the Sword, prompting Fang Xiao to seal him with the Seven Souls Sealing Soul Curse. 822 833 836

Ling Taichu remains cursed for approximately a thousand years until Fang Xiao uses the Mind Dispelling Pill and Seven Souls Sword Artifacts to remove the curse and awaken him. 919

Heavenly Sword Mountain Inheritance

Following his recovery, Ling Taichu considers changing to a Martial Cultivator path. He later passes the Heavenly Sword Mountain inheritance trial, begins cultivating the Myriad Victory Profound Sword Art, and forges the Longevity Sword at the fifth-tier Martial Dao realm. 920 1010 1011

Trivia

• Ling Taichu was once known as the Holy Son. 95
• He took Fang Xiao as a disciple while Fang Xiao was still in the Qi Condensation stage, a decision later admired by other cultivators as proof of his discerning eye. 471 794
• He refuses to force Fang Xiao into a political Dao-companion arrangement, leaving the decision entirely to his disciple. 347
• Though he later became responsible for Tianlan Sect affairs, he prefers secluded cultivation and calls power a hindrance when it does not aid the pursuit of the Dao. 970