Li Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Yan (李衍)
Alias(es)	Ghost's Bane
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Rogue cultivator; martial artist
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Manifested Strength	17	Defeats Meng HaiCheng with the Side Step Shoulder Shift and Heart Piercing Elbow.
Hidden Strength	40	Demonstrates Hidden Strength during a spar with Zhang ShiTong.
Second Floor of the Divine Pavilion	191	Endures Geng Metal Qi’s repeated attacks on his spirit and constructs a silvery-white second floor.
Pellet Strength	653	Breaks through during the battle with Wang Xuanmo, gaining greater bodily control and endurance.

Background / History

Li Yan is from Guanzhong and inherited military saber techniques from his grandfather, Li Gui, a Northern Frontier veteran honored with an Imperial Edict and a Hundred Battles Tablet. His father was Li Hu, whose death became a central grievance motivating Li Yan to improve his martial arts and settle old scores. 17 127 679

At a young age, Li Yan had already reached the peak of Manifested Strength. After being provoked by Meng HaiCheng, he won their sparring match and discovered that Sha LiFei knew about Li Hu’s death. 17

Li Yan’s early cultivation centered on the Great Luo Dharma Body and his Olfactory Mystical Power. He later learned Pigua Fist in Chang’an, acquired the Chuling Divine Technique, and continued expanding his martial and ritual arts through travel, sect conflicts, arena contests, and battles against evil-path practitioners. 28 130 133 299

Personality

Li Yan is calm under intimidation and refuses to yield to threats, though he will listen to reason. Sha LiFei describes this stubborn side as the reason villagers call him “Ghost’s Bane.” 39 424

He is persistent to an extreme in training and combat. During Zhang Xiaoshan’s instruction, he repeatedly rose after being thrown down, gradually reducing the flaws between his boxing styles. 294

Li Yan is also pragmatic and strategic. He uses disguises, scouting, traps, firearms, paper figures, and misdirection rather than relying solely on direct combat. 19 393 490

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Li Yan combines practical military saber work with boxing styles and movement techniques.

• Guanzhong Quick Saber — A fast, decisive saber style combined with military saber techniques passed down through his family. 187
• Pigua Fist and Red Fist — Learns Pigua under Lady Ma/Lady Li and receives the Pigua General Outline, containing her father’s research. 130 133
• Xinyi Liuhe Fist — Demonstrates proficiency during his dealings with the Zhang Clan Martial Hall. 40
• Side Step Shoulder Shift and Heart Piercing Elbow — Techniques used to defeat Meng HaiCheng. 17
• Wading Through Mud Steps — Footwork used in close-quarters fighting. 91
• Fist Momentum — Shows improved understanding while disciplining Zhang family disciples. 351

Great Luo Dharma Body

Li Yan’s divine statue is the Great Luo Dharma Body, a protective cultivation foundation that safeguards his spirit and can exchange injuries. 28

• Repairs physical and spiritual damage, granting exceptional resistance to spells and curses. 446 490
• Enables rapid recovery after pushing his body to its limits. 277 314
• Can be depleted to accelerate physical cultivation, at the cost of the treasure’s durability. 105
• Was further improved through the Undying Imprint Method. 451

Olfactory Mystical Power

Li Yan possesses an enhanced sense of smell that develops into a mystical ability.

• Detects unusual scents and traces, including a sweet scent that excites his Substitute Divine Statue. 19
• Identifies hidden poison, such as poison concealed in Lu Gongyuan’s false teeth. 148
• Recognizes familiar people by scent, including Yan Jiuling. 697

Thunder Method

Li Yan uses multiple thunder-based techniques in martial and supernatural combat.

• Yin Thunder Palm / Yin Lightning — Used against Daoists and Xuan Gate cultivators. 183 485
• Yang Thunder Falling Devil Hammer — A devastating close-range thunder strike. 477
• Soul Hooking Lightning Rope — Used to bind or eliminate enemies; may be strengthened with Divine Firmness. 394 529
• Heavenly Thunder Demon Smashing Fist — Destroys Wang Xuanmo’s formation and critically injures him. 653

Chuling Divine Technique

Li Yan creates and commands Chuling paper figures after studying the North Emperor Chuling Technique. 133

• Uses paper figures to spy on guests at the Phoenix Inn. 133
• Deploys a paper figure as a decoy to mislead pursuers. 490
• His paper figures and other Netherworld-related methods are vulnerable to stronger Netherworld forces. 642

Fengdu Method and Netherworld Authority

Li Yan can summon Netherworld Soldiers and uses Fengdu-related ritual methods. 538 652

• Received the essentials of the Fengdu Method and a treasure capable of summoning Marshal Wen. 538
• Summons Netherworld Soldiers against Zhao Qingxu’s malevolent spirits. 706
• Uses a Summoning Warrant to receive Celestial Decrees and Divine Firmness upon completing missions. 679

Divine Pavilion and Outer Altar Eight Generals

Li Yan develops his visualization space through the Divine Pavilion and Fengdu Method.

• Constructs the second floor of his Divine Pavilion from Geng Metal Qi. 191
• Uses the White Jade Capital treasure to reveal palaces in his visualization space and transform Luo Feng Mountain. 543
• Attempts to condense the Outer Altar Eight Generals’ Dharma Bodies. 543
• Employs the Outer Altar Eight Generals’ power alongside Severing Dust in battle against Xie SanYang. 552

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Severing Dust — Li Yan’s forged saber, made with the aura of Shoushan Copper Essence and a Hundred Refinements Blade; capable of containing Thunder Method. 191
• Guanshan Knife — Earlier weapon used against the evil beggars. 37
• Three Talents Demon Suppressing Coin — Used to frighten animals and suppress evil; later modified into a Coin Whip effective at binding yaos. 37 191
• Soul Severing Throwing Knife — A thrown weapon capable of destroying souls. 362 491
• Flintlock Firearm — Used to wound Ghost Painted Face and in later fights. 490 570
• Thousand Thoughts — Sichuan Brocade Armguard refined by absorbing Yin Energy beneath the Po Jun banner. 504
• Wish-Fulfilling Pearl — One of the relics of the Three Mount Wu Loose Immortals. 451
• Nether Iron short knives — Relics obtained alongside the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl. 451
• White Jade Capital — Treasure used to reveal the palaces in his visualization space. 543

Relationships

• Li Hu — Father; Li Yan seeks to improve his martial arts and settle his father’s grievance. 17 127
• Li Gui — Grandfather; Northern Frontier veteran whose military saber legacy and Imperial Edict are tied to Li Yan’s family. 679
• Sha LiFei — Longtime companion; initially manipulative and unreliable, but later a trusted ally who repeatedly fights beside Li Yan. 17 394 591
• Wang DaoXuan — Companion and ritual practitioner; works with Li Yan on supernatural threats and strategic planning. 28 543 652
• Lu San — Companion and animal communicator; scouts threats and fights alongside Li Yan’s group. 180 505 552
• Yan Jiuling — Friend and ally; helped Li Yan’s group escape Hua Mountain and later reunited with him in the capital. 192 697
• Zhang Xiaoshan — Senior martial artist and mentor figure; guides Li Yan’s boxing integration and asks him to train the Zhang family’s younger generation. 294 350 351
• Lady Ma / Lady Li — Pigua Fist teacher who gives Li Yan her father’s Pigua General Outline. 130 133
• Luo MingZi — Daoist friend and an important guide on Li Yan’s cultivation path. 76 680
• Hei Dan — Childhood friend from Li Family Fortress; Li Yan protects him from the Fire Bear Gang and later assists him in Jinmen. 155 679
• Long Yan’er — Dragon Girl who seeks refuge with the Bai family and entrusts Li Yan with matters concerning her mission and the Dragon Daughter Temple. 451 529
• Wang Xuanmo — Ghost Emperor and major enemy; Li Yan ultimately defeats and kills him on Mount Mang. 652 653

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xianyang and the Divine Fist Society

Li Yan establishes his reputation by defeating Meng HaiCheng, becomes entangled in the politics of the Xianyang Divine Fist Society, and accepts a Life and Death Arena match. 17 32 39 40

Chang’an Apprenticeship

In Chang’an, Li Yan seeks Pigua instruction, trains under Lady Ma, receives the Pigua General Outline, and begins using the Chuling Divine Technique. 127 130 133

Hua Mountain Cultivation

Li Yan cultivates on Hua Mountain, obtains Severing Dust, survives Geng Metal Qi, and develops his Divine Pavilion. 180 187 191

Arena and Martial Method Development

Li Yan gains instruction from Zhang Xiaoshan, learns how to integrate his boxing toward a Martial Method, and earns wider recognition through the Tortoise Mountain Arena. 294 299

Sichuan and the Shu King Residence

Targeted by the Shu King Residence, Li Yan uses open exposure and calculated movement to draw danger away from his companions. He battles Xuan Gate cultivators, evil-path practitioners, assassins, and the King of Shu’s forces. 479 485 490 562 570

Qingcheng Mountain and the Dragon Girl

Li Yan supports Long Yan’er’s cause, investigates threats surrounding the Dragon Daughter Temple, and leads allies through conflicts involving Qingyang Palace, the Flower God Parade, and hostile sorcerers. 529 552 603

Mount Mang and Wang Xuanmo

Li Yan confronts Ghost Emperor Wang Xuanmo’s attempt to seize the Yu Province Cauldron. During their final battle, he enters Pellet Strength, destroys Wang Xuanmo’s formation, and learns of Jianmu before killing him. 652 653

Capital and Qiankun Academy

Li Yan investigates Jianmu-linked conspiracies and evil arts in the capital, reunites with old allies, and becomes connected to Qiankun Academy’s artisans, patrons, and changing Human Path. 679 690 697 717 723

Trivia

• Li Yan formally introduces himself as a “rogue cultivator” during the Tortoise Mountain Arena. 299
• His ability to embed sunflower seed husks into bluestone demonstrates highly concentrated Hidden Strength. 482
• He is unusually resistant to spells because the Great Luo Dharma Body repairs both bodily and spiritual injuries. 446
• Li Yan’s cultivation practice repeatedly pushes his body to exhaustion, giving him unusually fine bodily control for his level. 277