Xie Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xie Yuan (谢渊)
Alias(es)	Zhang Shan; Yao Tianchuan; Nether Goose; Xie Bing; Jia Lao Er
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chen Commandery Xie Family; Yunshan Sword Sect; formerly Soaring Dragon Escort Agency and Iron Clothes Gate
Occupation/Role	Xie Family Head; martial artist; former Chief Escort Leader
Status	Alive
Family	Raised by Xie Lun and the couple buried in North Mountain Village; later recognized by Xie Yi as Xie Xuan's presumed son before evidence revealed that he was actually the biological son of his adoptive parents 16 63

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Outer Refinement — First Level of Practice	242	Completed the fourth layer of Iron Cloth and achieved Great Accomplishment in Skin Tempering, becoming a first-grade martial artist.
Outer Refinement — Second Level of Practice	141	Had become a Second Level martial artist by his return to Coiling Dragon Town.
Outer Refinement — Third Level of Practice	67	Effortlessly defeated two Third Level bandit leaders and routed their bandits.
Outer Refinement — Fourth Level of Practice	354	His true realm was identified during the bandit battle after he used the Eight Trigrams Mountain Shaking Fist and saber techniques.
Qi and Blood First Transformation Realm	143	Consumed the final Blood Dragon Pill and underwent a complete physical transformation, gaining the ability to project force.
Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm	199	Reached the Second Transformation Realm while developing his sword arts, movement technique, and dual Inner Strength foundation.
Qi and Blood Third Transformation Realm — late stage	59	The Holy Fire Baptism greatly strengthened his Blood Qi and advanced him to the late Third Transformation Realm.
Qi and Blood Third Transformation Realm — peak	221	Refined the Indestructible Golden Bell Cover to the peak of the Third Transformation Realm and began preparing for Grandmastery.
Grandmaster Realm	83	Broke through on Sword Peak; gained Grandmaster Force, divine consciousness, the intermediate Sword Heart, and the Fleeting Light Shadow Sword.
Bridge to Heaven Realm	306	Reached the Bridge to Heaven through dual cultivation with Mu Chaoyun, strengthening his physique, defense, Spiritual Sense, and understanding of the Dao.

Background

Xie Yuan began as a woodcutter from Small Stone Village, supporting himself through chopping timber and using the proceeds to enter Iron Clothes Gate. His depleted body initially prevented him from becoming a core disciple, but a mysterious Taoist gave him the Nourishing Body Skill, allowing him to cultivate Inner Strength alongside external training 315 316.

He was raised by Xie Lun and a couple from North Mountain Village. Xie Yi initially identified him as the son of former Xie Family Head Xie Xuan, but a letter later established that Xie Yuan was in fact the biological son of the couple who raised him; the real Xie Xuan's son had been entrusted elsewhere during the chaos of war 16 63. Despite this revelation, Xie Yuan remained bound to the Xie Family through Xie Yi's trust and his own sense of responsibility.

After Xie Yi was gravely injured during the Capital City upheaval, he entrusted the Xie Family to Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan accepted the family head position despite considering his own cultivation insufficient for the burden 3. He later led the clan through internal disputes, external pressure from rival families, and threats from the Ji Family 9 42.

Appearance

Xie Yuan is a clean-cut, strikingly handsome young man with fair skin, sharp brows, bright eyes, and a vigorous bearing. The Azure Fruit and successive cultivation breakthroughs strengthened his physique and made his appearance more upright and mature 132 143.

• Fair, clear complexion and refined features. 132
• Grew taller and more masculine after entering the Qi and Blood Transformation Realm. 143
• Commonly carries weaponry suited to his flexible fighting style, especially axes, swords, and a spear. 178 275
• Uses disguises extensively; his Heaven Concealing Art can alter his apparent identity and conceal equipment. 126 200

Personality

Xie Yuan is diligent to an extreme, treating cultivation, woodcutting, and martial practice as parts of the same self-improving discipline. Even after gaining wealth, status, and elite resources, he prefers earning strength through steady effort and careful planning 28 145 179.

He is practical and calculating in conflict. He evaluates enemies, terrain, resources, and timing rather than relying on brute force, and he will use disguises, illusions, intimidation, or misdirection when necessary 23 126 294. This ruthlessness is tempered by a clear personal code: he refuses to kill people he believes innocent and repeatedly acts against corrupt officials, traffickers, bandits, and predatory martial artists 145 153 249.

As family head, he is composed under pressure and prioritizes the Xie Family's survival over pride or immediate revenge 9 195. He remains deeply loyal to those who aided him, including old friends from Iron Clothes Gate and Soaring Dragon Escort Agency 161 201.

Abilities & Skills

Nourishing Body Skill

An Inner Strength Nourishing Method given to Xie Yuan by a mysterious Taoist. It strengthens his body, replenishes Blood Qi, improves endurance, and can be converted into other compatible Inner Strength methods. 316 307

• Lets him maintain unusually high stamina in repeated battles. 187
• Enables rapid conversion into the Great Golden River Skill and Yunshan Sword Intent Scripture. 307 115
• Harmonizes differing elemental and cultivation properties within his body. 59

Indestructible Golden Bell Cover

Xie Yuan's principal external body-tempering art, evolved from his Iron Cloth training. It hardens his body, protects him with golden force, and supports his Blood Qi cultivation. 72 83

• Can be concentrated over specific parts of his body for more efficient defense. 72
• Reached the fourth layer upon his Grandmaster breakthrough. 83
• Its Grandmaster-level refinement supports his extraordinary endurance and resistance against powerful opponents. 402

Great Golden River Skill

A top-tier Yao Family Inner Strength art with eighteen levels. Every two levels form a “bend,” allowing additional layers of force to stack like surging river waves. 307

• Reached the seventh level after Xie Yuan converted his existing Inner Strength into it. 307
• Reached the eleventh layer by the time he entered the Grandmaster Realm. 83
• Grants exceptionally deep Inner Breath, prolonged combat endurance, and immense striking force. 72 399
• Its high level also helped sustain Dragon Soul's awakened properties and other costly techniques. 200 211

Swordsmanship

Xie Yuan is an exceptional swordsman with the Yunshan Sword Style, Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, Sword Heart, and Fleeting Light Shadow Sword. 83 347

• Sword Heart — allows him to discern weaknesses in sword arts and sometimes perceive flaws in other weapons. 83
• Cloud Dragon Nine Forms — a Grandmaster-level sword art he entered at the beginner stage after insights from the Black Heaven Book and Sword Wind. 347
• Fleeting Light Shadow Sword — a sword art comprehended on Sword Peak and later used to defeat opponents of superior cultivation. 83 200
• Uses the Yunshan Sword Style with enough mastery to defeat inner-sect opponents and attract multiple Grandmasters' attention. 81

Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear

A supreme Xie Family spear art taught by Xie Fu. Its movements also temper Blood Qi and promote Inner Breath. 99 229

• First Form: Peace in the Mortal Realm — entered and later cultivated to Mastery. 229 221
• Second Form: Ten Thousand Enemies — comprehended under Xie Fu's guidance. 346
• Third Form: Nine Hells Demon Subjugation — likewise comprehended during training in the Martial Repository. 346
• The art's Heaven-Burning nature was enhanced by divine-fire-infused Blood Qi. 402

Axe Techniques

Axes remain central to Xie Yuan's fighting style, reflecting his origins as a woodcutter.

• Firewood-Chopping Axe Technique / Three-Pronged Axe — a deceptively simple method that allowed him to sever Yu Jin's refined-iron spear and defeat stronger opponents. 324
• Moon Slaying Axe — a powerful axe art gifted alongside Moon-Slayer; effective in crowd combat and sweeping engagements. 391 86
• Splitting Mount Hua / Thousand Army Breaker — high-power killing moves used against Grandmasters and large groups. 232 301

Heaven Concealing and Illusion Arts

Xie Yuan uses the Heaven Concealing Art to hide his identity, aura, and equipment, and the Heaven Illusion Art to create convincing false perceptions. 126 200

• Impersonated Yao Tianchuan after extracting his memories and part of his fate through illusion arts. 126
• Can conceal weapons carried on his body, including Dragon Soul. 200
• Created multiple identical figures to confuse peak Grandmasters in battle. 232 294
• Uses illusions for interrogation, psychological pressure, infiltration, and escape. 236 301

Black Heaven Book

A mysterious, dangerous artifact tied to Xie Yuan's rapid insights into cultivation and weapon arts. Its contents include the Eight Trigrams Lotus and the Ten Thousand Weapons Candlelight Shadow. 181 297

• Accelerates his understanding of weapon arts and contributes to sudden breakthroughs. 221 399
• Granted insights into the Heaven Concealing Art and Sweep Through a Thousand Armies. 54
• Contains or is associated with powerful pages and treasures, including the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron. 108 289
• Carries risks of obsession and remains incompletely understood. 181

Equipment

• Dragon Soul — top-grade dark-blue mystic spear forged by Xie Tiexin. Its second seal opened after Xie Yuan became a Grandmaster, allowing it to emit freezing power. 16 200
• Hundred Transformations Mystic Weapon — a mystic weapon able to assume the form of axes, swords, sabers, staves, and other tools at Xie Yuan's will. It was later damaged in battle, though its transformation core may still be repairable. 11 387 402
• Moon-Slayer — a heavy, crescent-bladed great axe given by Situ Qin, designed for cleaving, hooking, thrusting, and chopping. 391
• Mountains and Rivers Cauldron — a Black Heaven Book-associated magical treasure that can serve as a powerful defensive or offensive tool. 108 289
• Ten Thousand Weapons Candlelight Shadow — a Black Heaven Book page that provides weapon insights and aids Xie Yuan's mastery of diverse martial arts. 221 297
• Family Head's Blood Jade Ring — stores substantial quantities of Grandmaster-level Blood Qi, allowing Xie Yuan to replenish himself during demanding battles. 211 399
• Jade Buddha Pendant — protective artifact gifted by Situ Qin; capable of blocking attacks from the Third Transformation Realm. 371
• Soft Golden Ore — shape-changing, hardened material obtained through Situ Qin's treasury; sought as a possible replacement or repair material for his transforming weapon. 275

Relationships

• Situ Qin — lover and closest companion. They repeatedly fight side by side, support one another's cultivation, and later reunite with their son, Xie JunGui. 115 195 80
• Mu Chaoyun — trusted ally, mentor, and lover. She guided much of his growth, shared the Black Heaven Book's secrets, and later dual-cultivated with him. 250 283 306
• Xie Yi — adoptive uncle and predecessor as Xie Family Head. He entrusted Xie Yuan with the clan during its crisis and investigated his origins. 3 16
• Xie Lun — elder brother who raised Xie Yuan after their parents died. Xie Yuan avenged him by killing Zhang Yu Feng. 29 156
• Xie Lingyun — Xie Family cousin and close companion. She is protective of Xie Yuan, though her feelings and their betrothal complicate their relationship. 80 267
• Xie Fu — Martial Guardian Elder and spear mentor. He taught Xie Yuan the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear and defended him before the clan. 99 148 346
• Liu Heshang — Iron Clothes Gate master. He protected Xie Yuan early in his martial path and later received Xie Yuan's help in saving the gate. 189 194
• Li Xingtuo — Yunshan Sword Sect Master. He supported Xie Yuan's Grandmaster breakthrough and authorized him to pass down the Fleeting Light Shadow Sword. 83 180
• Zhao Xingyang — former escort superior and mentor at Soaring Dragon Escort Agency. He recognized Xie Yuan's potential and fought alongside him during escort missions. 123 331 337
• Yun Xing — Stove Sect Torchbearer Envoy and uneasy ally. She has aided Xie Yuan with Black Heaven Book matters and called on him when Situ Qin was endangered. 113 236 297

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Woodcutter and martial novice — earns money through timber, enters Iron Clothes Gate, and establishes his foundations through Iron Cloth and the Nourishing Body Skill. 84 315 316
• Escort Agency period — joins Soaring Dragon Escort Agency, becomes an escort master and later chief, defeats Vajra Gate challengers, and protects convoys from bandits. 191 337 354
• Justice in Yun Zhao — investigates local corruption and trafficking, kills Yu Chunsheng, and becomes a wanted fugitive before his name is later cleared. 86 238 229
• Yunshan Sword Sect disguise — enters Yunshan as “Zhang Shan,” hides his true cultivation, studies sword arts, and eventually becomes a Grandmaster on Sword Peak. 142 383 83
• Yao Family infiltration — kills Yao Tianchuan, assumes his identity, cultivates the Great Golden River Skill, and infiltrates the Yao Family and Autumn Wind Pavilion. 126 307 152
• Xie Family leadership — takes responsibility for the Chen Commandery Xie Family, resolves clan crises, and develops the Heaven Burning World Destroying Spear. 195 286 346
• Heaven Beyond Heaven and world crisis — battles Stove Sect and foreign powers, searches for Situ Qin, confronts Grandmasters, and resolves to oppose the Heavenly Dao. 301 80 232

Notable Quotes

“Naturally, to execute the fatuous ruler, destroy injustice, and restore peace under heaven.” 41

“I, Xie Yuan, was born to uphold justice and right wrongs!” 67

Trivia

• Xie Yuan's first weapon was a logging axe, and even after mastering spear and sword arts, he continues to feel most secure carrying an axe. 5 275
• He has exceptional aptitude for learning weapon arts; the Ten Thousand Weapons Candlelight Shadow further amplifies this talent. 221 399
• He often conceals his strength, identity, and equipment rather than displaying them openly. 13 142 200
• His public reputation has ranged from “Peerless Villain” to an officially recognized citizen who upheld justice. 145 229