Ren Li

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ren Li (任立)
Alias(es)	Foreman
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Corpse Buriers' crew of the border town (former foreman/supervisor)
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Artifact Refiner; former supervisor of the Corpse Buriers
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 45

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Qi Refining	46	Held a dominant cultivation level within the border-town shantytown and served as the Corpse Buriers' foreman.
Foundation Establishment	102	Succeeds in breaking through during seclusion; credits Du En's guidance for helping him overcome his previous blockage.
Mid Foundation Establishment	232	His wood-element cultivation and Foundation Establishment epiphany grant exceptional vitality, resilience, and endurance; he evades the perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator Yun Ying for an extended pursuit.

Background

Ren Li arrives in the border town as the Corpse Buriers' new foreman. During his first substantial conversation with Du En, he confirms that a worker has been bewitched and is nearing the evil path. Du En then reveals that he derived his Breath Concealing Technique from part of the evil Life Concealing Death Mimicking Art, attracting Ren Li's interest 45.

At the time, Ren Li is a Peak Qi Refining cultivator whose authority makes the Corpse Buriers fearful of acting without his permission. He spends long periods meditating in the barren corpse-burial land, seeking insight but repeatedly failing to obtain it 46 77.

His assessment of Du En changes when Du En produces First-tier Mid Grade Spirit Cuisine from a stewed owl. Having prematurely dismissed the dish as a failure, Ren Li is embarrassed to recognize that Du En has grasped a genuine cultivation art despite his humble circumstances 47.

Ren Li later departs the border town after being relieved of his foreman duties. Before leaving, he completes multiple refinements for Du En, provides the Firm Spirit Technique and Artifact Control Technique, and expresses a wish to meet again 87.

During seclusion, Ren Li reaches Foundation Establishment after taking Du En's advice to change his approach to enlightenment 102. He later searches Chiwu City for Shi Lei's missing son and investigates the supply of Red Leaf Wutong, only to uncover a corpse pile on Bald Head Mountain and become the target of Yun Ying and Gao Feng's pursuit 235.

Personality

Ren Li initially presents himself with the pride and confidence of a city-born Peak Qi Refining foreman. He enjoys asserting authority over Du En, offers unsolicited critiques, and is visibly pleased when others recognize his craftsmanship 47 56.

His pride is tempered by an ability to acknowledge genuine skill. Du En's Spirit Cuisine, rapid advancement, and combat ability repeatedly force Ren Li to reassess him, eventually developing into respect, cooperation, and trust 47 85 83.

He is persistent to the point of fixation in his pursuit of enlightenment, repeatedly searching for Corpse Yin Grass and trying to recreate the conditions for his breakthrough insight even after failures 56 78. Under pressure, however, he proves resourceful rather than reckless, relying on concealment, endurance, and terrain to survive Yun Ying's pursuit 231 232.

Abilities & Skills

Wood-Element Cultivation

Ren Li is a wood-element cultivator whose Foundation Establishment insight greatly enhanced his vitality.

• Can create Wood Spirit Vines to bind enemies, including the Three-tailed Iron Ox 82.
• Uses Wood Concealment Technique to hide his aura among vegetation while fleeing 231.
• His Foundation Establishment epiphany gave him exceptionally strong stamina and recovery, allowing him to flee for three days and nights without stopping 232.
• His vitality and resilience let him survive pursuit by Yun Ying, whose cultivation was a full minor realm higher 232.

Artifact Refining

Ren Li is an Artifact Refiner who refines practical tools and combat equipment.

• Crafted the Mud Pot, a Rank 1 High-grade Magic Tool designed to absorb ambient spiritual energy and convert it into adjustable cooking heat 56.
• Refined and upgraded Du En's Lacquer Shadow Robe, saber, shield, and cloak using demonic-beast materials 87.
• Agreed to split the rewards from Shi Lei's ores with Du En in exchange for assisting with artifact refinement 63.
• Provides Du En with an Artifact Refining Handbook and instruction in the Artifact Control Technique 87.

Ice Breath Technique

During his confrontation with Yun Ying, Ren Li reveals the Ice Breath Technique.

• Freezes both himself and Yun Ying to avert immediate danger 233.
• Demonstrates his ability to improvise under overwhelming pressure despite being cornered by stronger opponents 233.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mud Pot — Rank 1 High-grade cooking Magic Tool with an adjustable spiritual-energy heating enchantment; crafted by Ren Li 56.
• Earth-yellow great hammer — Used against the Three-tailed Iron Ox 82.
• Magic Robe — Automatically blocks a potentially fatal strike from the Shadow Leopard, though Ren Li is still injured by the impact 82.
• Storage Bag — Used to carry and produce the Mud Pot 56.

Relationships

• Du En — Initially his subordinate and a source of irritation, then a respected collaborator. Ren Li protects Du En from Steward He Bo, refines equipment for him, provides cultivation resources, and credits Du En's guidance for his Foundation Establishment breakthrough 45 86 87 102.
• Shi Lei — Ren Li exhausts his Magic Power attempting to save Shi Lei, reacts erratically to his death, and later continues searching for Shi Lei's missing son 60 235.
• Yun Ying — Senior brother and adversary. Yun Ying pursues Ren Li through the Chiwu Mountain Range and mortal realm, intending to capture him for a larger scheme 102 231.
• Gao Feng — A Golden Core cultivator summoned by Yun Ying to ambush and kill Ren Li; Du En's intervention prevents the attempt 232.
• Ning Caize — One of the Corpse Buriers under Ren Li's supervision; Ning Caize and the others fear Ren Li's authority but benefit from the safety his presence provides 46 56.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Border-Town Foreman

Ren Li oversees the Corpse Buriers after arriving as their new foreman. His early interactions with Du En begin with suspicion and hierarchical posturing, but Du En's modified Breath Concealing Technique and Spirit Cuisine earn his interest and admiration 45 47.

He becomes a visible shield for Du En's group against the steward and local gangs. His position gives the Corpse Buriers an unusual sense of security, though he cannot prevent all threats facing the wasteland 57 58.

Demonic-Beast Crisis

Ren Li joins Du En against demonic beasts threatening the corpse-burial grounds. He is nearly overwhelmed by the Three-tailed Iron Ox and Shadow Leopard before Du En intervenes, after which the two cooperate to eliminate the remaining beasts 82 83.

Following the battle, Ren Li mediates with Steward He Bo, handles his share of the spoils, and agrees to refine materials into equipment for Du En 86 87.

Departure and Foundation Establishment

After losing his foreman position, Ren Li departs the border town but leaves Du En with refined equipment, cultivation techniques, and an artifact-refining handbook. His prolonged attempts to gain insight ultimately succeed after Du En's advice gives him a new perspective 87 102.

Chiwu City Pursuit

While investigating Shi Lei's missing son and the Red Leaf Wutong supply in Chiwu City, Ren Li discovers evidence of a larger conspiracy. Yun Ying and Gao Feng pursue him, but Ren Li repeatedly escapes through concealment, endurance, and terrain manipulation until Du En arrives to rescue him 231 232 235.

Standoff with Yun Ying

Cornered alongside Yun Ying, Ren Li activates his Ice Breath Technique and freezes them both, preventing immediate disaster. The maneuver leaves Yun Ying immobilized and exposes the senior brother's overconfidence 233.