Xiao Hongchen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Hongchen (笑红尘)
Alias(es)	Number One Genius of the Sun Moon Empire; Young Master of Mingde Hall 8 41
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy; Mingde Hall; Sword Pavilion; Sun Moon Empire 41 48 105
Occupation/Role	Soul Tool engineer, ranged combatant, and Sword Pavilion strategist 106
Status	Active 201
First Appearance	8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Sage — seven Soul Rings	8	Displayed two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings during his ranking-match battle against Ji Juechen.
Soul Douluo — Level 80+	105	Broke through alongside the other members of the Seven Heroes of Sword Pavilion in the Time Wheel Secret Realm.

Background

Xiao Hongchen was recognized as the Sun Moon Empire's foremost young genius and the grandson of Mingde Hall's master, Jing Hongchen. Confident in his Three-legged Golden Toad Martial Soul, Metal Element control, and powerful Soul Tools, he initially viewed Ji Juechen as an inferior opponent and challenged him during the academy ranking matches. Ji Juechen dismantled Xiao's Soul Tool Cannon and exposed the core position of his metal construct, defeating him decisively. 8

His resentment toward Ji led him to operate the first phase of Jing Hongchen's Red Lotus Plan, remotely attacking Ji with the mental technique Red Lotus Fire. The attack instead became nourishment for Ji's Sword Intent, leaving Xiao shocked by his opponent's ability to turn hostile force into growth. 10 11

After another defeat in which Ji Juechen shattered his Soul Tool turret with a single precisely placed strike, Xiao spent three days redesigning its energy-transmission core. He discarded redundant structures in pursuit of stability and efficiency, then sought Ji's appraisal rather than another confrontation. Ji's restrained approval—“Passable”—marked the beginning of Xiao's shift from arrogant rivalry to technical self-improvement. 41 46

Appearance

Xiao Hongchen commonly presents himself in elaborate Soul Tool equipment, matching his status as a Mingde Hall prodigy.

• Golden eyes, often described as carrying arrogance, intensity, or competitive focus. 97 100
• Uses magnificent or heavily armed Soul Tool configurations in combat. 41
• When possessed by the Three-legged Golden Toad Martial Soul, dark-golden scales cover his body and a massive toad phantom manifests behind him. 8

Personality

Xiao is proud, confrontational, and intensely competitive. Ji Juechen's arrival at the academy provoked his jealousy because he believed the attention given to newcomers undermined his standing as the academy's top genius. 41

Defeat does not break his drive; it redirects it. Rather than merely resent Ji's ability to identify structural flaws, Xiao reconstructs his designs around that criticism. He increasingly values efficiency, stability, and practical usefulness over flashy but redundant Soul Tool design. 46 48

He remains fiercely committed to proving the future value of Soul Tools, especially when confronted by Huo Yuhao's Extreme Ice and He Caitou's artillery. 97 111

Abilities & Skills

Three-legged Golden Toad Martial Soul

Xiao's Martial Soul grants him metal affinity, formidable durability, and control over surrounding metallic materials. 8

• Golden Toad Control — Pulls and manipulates nearby metal, including fragments from the arena and audience fixtures. 8
• Gold Boil — A named second Soul Skill activated immediately after Golden Toad Control. 8
• Scale Armor — His possessed form endured a Sword Shadow Clone's claw strike with only sparks. 8

Metal Control: Myriad Machines Domain

A Soul Skill and Soul Tool array combining metal manipulation with battlefield lockdown. 51

• Deploys a honeycomb-shaped array to seal an area and restrict enemy movement. 51
• Recorded improved stability when operating amid Huo Yuhao's frost interference and Jing Ziyan's purple smoke. 52
• Can form layered rotating shields and interception nets through Metal Storm · Guardian Sequence. 98

Soul Tool Engineering

Xiao is a high-level Soul Tool designer whose work increasingly emphasizes optimized structure and battlefield practicality.

• Redesigned a Soul Guiding Core after Ji Juechen exposed its weakness; its structural stability rose by 47%, energy-flow efficiency by 35%, and identified weaknesses fell from three to one. 46
• Developed the Hongchen Barrier Unit 1, a three-shield defensive field designed to defend physically, analyze and deflect energy, and resist Evil Soul Master corrosion. 49
• Developed the prototype Mortal World Domain, a Domain Soul Tool capable of distorting light and disrupting Soul Power perception. 89
• Presented the Eternal Soul Lamp, a low-consumption Soul Tool intended to provide long-lasting household illumination. 80

Heavy Firepower

Xiao can rapidly reconfigure controlled metal into large-scale offensive Soul Tools.

• Consolidated metal spheres into a God-Slaying Spear capable of shattering an enemy energy shield. 95
• Used Metal Storm—Overload Mode to assemble a colossal Fixed Soul Cannon and concentrate all available energy into one shot. 100
• Calculated a strike plan around a modified Rank 8 Soul Cannon Shell during Sword Pavilion's mission against the Heaven Dou Empire. 106
• His arsenal's high-output attacks can exhaust his Soul Power or consume limited high-rank ammunition during prolonged operations. 100 122

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Soul Tool Cannon / Turret — Xiao's early primary armament; repeatedly refined after Ji Juechen identified its structural vulnerabilities. 8 41 46
• Star Destroyer — His treasured Soul Tool Cannon, continuously optimized after clashes with Tang Sect Soul Tool users. 113
• Liquid Metal — A shifting material he manipulates while preparing the Mortal World Domain prototype. 89
• Metal spheres — Modular ammunition and construction units used for shields, interception nets, spears, and artillery. 95 98 100
• Advanced Soul Tool Milk Bottle — Used to replenish Soul Power after the Sever Flow mission. 123

Relationships

• Jing Hongchen — Grandfather and Mingde Hall master; his plans and expectations place Xiao at the center of the academy's Soul Tool development. 10 41
• Meng Hongchen — His sister and frequent combat partner; the siblings combine their abilities during Sword Pavilion assaults. 48 150
• Ji Juechen — Began as an arrogant challenger and recurring rival. Xiao later sought Ji's technical validation, collaborated on shield testing, and became part of the Sword Pavilion built around him. 41 46 48
• Huo Yuhao — A competitive counterpart whose power and Soul Tool insight pressure Xiao to refine his own work; their artillery exchange reflects their opposing technical philosophies. 97 111
• Jing Yu — Tactical collaborator whose information supports Xiao's calculations during assassination and infiltration missions. 106

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Academy ranking matches — Faced Ji Juechen as the Sun Moon Empire's leading genius, but lost after Ji dismantled his cannon and penetrated his metal control. 8
• Red Lotus Plan — Operated the mental-attack device used to test and temper Ji Juechen, only to witness the attack strengthen its target. 10 11
• Soul Tool reform — Rebuilt his core designs around efficiency and anti-corrosion defense, becoming a key technical member of Ji's emerging group. 46 49
• Sword Pavilion operations — Provided firepower, area lockdown, defensive arrays, and tactical calculations in team missions and tournament battles. 51 95 106
• Continental war — Reached Soul Douluo, joined deep-penetration missions, helped assassinate the Heavenly Soul Emperor through diversionary attacks, and fought on the eastern border. 105 107 150
• Five-year aftermath — On Ji Juechen's return, Xiao realized that despite training desperately, he could no longer properly sense the vast gap between them. 201

Notable Quotes

“This is a redesigned core energy transmission node based on your sword strike that day. I've discarded all flashy, redundant structures, pursuing only ultimate stability and efficiency.” 46

“The infinite possibilities of Soul Tools are the true path to the future.” 97