Lin Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lin Xiao (林逍)
Alias(es)	Brother Xiao
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Age	20 45
Affiliation	Tianhai Third High School; probationary cooperator of Ye Qingyan and the Ye family 1 45
Occupation/Role	Martial Dao student; clandestine operative and modifier user
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “Desperation and Serendipity” 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Martial Disciple peak	27	While trapped in an abandoned factory by Scarface Qiang's men, Lin Xiao consumed Body Tempering Fluid and Jade Marrow Muscle Growth Powder, then used the Martial Arts Modifier to weaken his bottleneck. The breakthrough improved his strength by 30%, speed by 25%, stamina by 40%, neural reaction by 20%, True Qi volume by 50%, and True Qi condensation by 30%; it also restored his core to a stable +0.1 Source Energy Points.

Background / History

Lin Xiao grew up poor and was unable to afford even basic Body Tempering Fluid, leaving him at the bottom of Tianhai Third High School's Martial Dao class. He was known as a good-looking but financially destitute student with a reputation for being ruthless and lucky on the streets. 1 45

When Zhao Hu harassed Zhou Xiaoya, Lin Xiao intervened despite recognizing that challenging a One-Star Martial Artist could get him killed. Zhao Hu severely beat him, but a blue interface appeared in Lin Xiao's mind and identified a flaw in Zhao Hu's Raging Bull Strength. Lin Xiao modified the flaw, causing Zhao Hu's arm to break under his own attack, then incapacitated him. 1 2

While hiding in an abandoned gymnasium, Lin Xiao identified the interface as the Martial Arts Modifier. He learned that its effects required Source Energy Points and began testing it on his injuries and a sandbag. His first major transaction came when Su Qingxue asked him to solve her cultivation bottleneck; he forcefully unblocked her Jade Balance Hidden Meridian and enabled her breakthrough to One-Star Martial Artist. 3 5

Appearance

Lin Xiao is a handsome young man whose normally casual appearance contrasts with the ferocity he shows in combat.

• Sharp brows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and clear black-and-white eyes. 1 2
• Usually wears a faint, roguish smile.
• His washed-out Tianhai Third High School uniform gives him an untamed, streetwise appearance. 1
• His hair is often messy or greasy after fights and recovery periods. 3 4
• His eyes can take on an abnormal azure appearance when using his secret power, alarming Su Qingxue. 12 14
• During his raid on the Obsidian bar, he wears black casual clothes with a hood drawn low. 48

Personality

Lin Xiao is defiant, calculating, and intensely survival-driven. Even before gaining the Modifier, he refused to back down from Zhao Hu after publicly challenging him. Once he gained power, he became willing to exploit fleeting weaknesses, leverage Su Qingxue's status, and take dangerous risks for money, Energy Stones, or a path out of desperation. 1 2 5 7

His usual demeanor is flippant and roguish, often using teasing remarks to unsettle opponents or conceal fear and exhaustion. This facade is deliberate: when questioned by Qin Bing or confronted by stronger forces, he presents himself as weak, innocent, or merely lucky while withholding the truth about the Modifier. 14 18 28

Lin Xiao can be ruthless when cornered, crippling Zhao Hu, killing Blood Wolf Gang attackers, and pursuing vengeance against Scorpion. However, his decision to intervene for Zhou Xiaoya and his actions during Scorpion's fall, which indirectly save captive women, show that his pragmatism does not erase his moral limits. 1 50

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Modifier

A blue mental interface that scans targets, identifies weaknesses, and alters parameters in people, martial techniques, objects, and surroundings.

• Identified and modified the flawed Quchi (Pseudo) node in Zhao Hu's Raging Bull Strength, causing Zhao Hu's arm to suffer catastrophic backlash. 1
• Performs scans of physical injuries, meridians, martial arts, cultivation diagrams, environmental structures, and opponents' old injuries. 3 5 14 29
• Accelerates Lin Xiao's recovery from contusions and can strengthen damaged areas, though major injuries require far more Source Energy than he usually possesses. 3 4 20
• Can alter external objects, including disintegrating a sandbag, destabilizing stone slabs, collapsing a metal beam, rupturing an oil drum, and disrupting power systems. 3 19 20 49
• Forcefully unblocked Su Qingxue's Jade Balance Hidden Meridian, allowing her to become a One-Star Martial Artist. 5
• Made microscopic changes to Su Hao's Cold Python Art circulation route, setting up a True Qi backlash during the Su family competition. 29 38 40
• Replenishes through Energy Stones, rare ambient energy, successful breakthroughs, and influential events. 22 27 40
• Excessive use causes Source Energy overdraft, mental exhaustion, physical collapse, impaired scans, increased costs, and possible core failure. 6 20 24

Optimized Long Fist

Lin Xiao used the Modifier to optimize his basic Long Fist technique by removing seventeen flaws and redundant energy-circulation points.

• Increased the technique's power and fluidity by roughly 5–8%. 11
• Cracked a thick cement brick with a single left-handed punch after optimization. 11
• Combined the technique with targeted Modifier interference to defeat a peak One-Star masked assassin. 14

Surging Waves Art

Lin Xiao cultivates the Surging Waves Art, whose water-attributed True Qi provides endurance and sustained recovery.

• Its True Qi nourishes damaged muscles, bones, and flesh after his core begins recovering. 26
• After reaching Martial Disciple peak, its circulation becomes markedly faster and more forceful. 27

Viper's Kiss Core

A dormant dark-green core embedded in Lin Xiao's right leg. It can provide dangerous power and support complex interference, but worsens his instability.

• Its cold tremors clash with the Modifier's core and contribute to Lin Xiao's recurring depletion. 36
• Enables electronic sabotage, including power-line overloads, surveillance interference, and disruption of an enemy's True Qi defense. 49 50
• Carries a risk of severe backlash and interruption of consciousness. 49

Stealth and Improvised Combat

Lin Xiao excels at exploiting terrain, timing, and an opponent's blind spots rather than relying on direct force.

• Escaped Scarface Qiang's ambush by creating falling-debris and explosion hazards. 19 20
• Fought through a lethal Long Street ambush while critically wounded, killing two martial artists in a rapid dagger counterattack. 43
• Infiltrated the Obsidian bar, mapped its guards and exits, extinguished its power, and eliminated hidden sentries without alerting the others. 48 49

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Enhanced alloy dagger — Modified at the cost of 0.4 Source Energy Points; its material and edge became harder and sharper. 37
• Jade Marrow Muscle Growth Powder — Su family medicine used to accelerate recovery from severe wounds. 21 23 27
• Body Tempering Fluid — Used both for recovery and as a catalyst during his Martial Disciple peak breakthrough. 17 27
• Black-market explosives — Obtained through Fatty Wang for planned operations. 23
• Energy Stones — Lin Xiao's principal reliable source of Source Energy replenishment. 22 26 41

Relationships

• Fatty Wang — Lin Xiao's best friend, lookout, courier, and intelligence gatherer. Fatty Wang repeatedly treats Lin Xiao's wounds, finds black-market information, and supports his plans despite fearing for his safety. 1 7 23 29
• Su Qingxue — Transactional ally and nominal friend. Lin Xiao cured her Jade Balance Hidden Meridian blockage in exchange for public protection, resources, and later assistance against Su Hao; their alliance remains strained by mutual suspicion and reliance. 5 29 36 41
• Qin Bing — Captain of the Special Operations Ninth Division who rescued Lin Xiao after Scarface Qiang's attack. She remains suspicious of his recovery, the Shadow Alliance connection, and his unexplained abilities. 20 21 28
• Ye Qingyan — Ye family powerbroker who rescued Lin Xiao from Scorpion's ambush and offered him probationary cooperation in exchange for solving problems the Ye family cannot address openly. 44 45 47
• Zhao Hu — One-Star Martial Artist and school bully whose attack triggered Lin Xiao's first successful Modifier interference. Lin Xiao crippled Zhao Hu's arm and knocked him unconscious. 1 2
• Scarface Qiang — Blood Wolf Gang enemy who repeatedly attempts to kill Lin Xiao after Zhao Hu and Ah Qi are defeated. His pursuit forces Lin Xiao's breakthrough to Martial Disciple peak. 19 20 27
• Scorpion — Blood Wolf Gang leader who orchestrated an ambush against Lin Xiao on Long Street. Lin Xiao later infiltrated the gang's stronghold and killed him. 43 44 50

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Zhao Hu confrontation — Lin Xiao's defense of Zhou Xiaoya leads to his first use of the Martial Arts Modifier and the downfall of Zhao Hu. 1 2
• Modifier discovery and Su Qingxue deal — He tests the Modifier, learns its Source Energy cost, cures Su Qingxue's bottleneck, and gains her public protection as a nominal friend. 3 5 9
• Blood Wolf Gang retaliation — Lin Xiao survives attacks from Ah Qi and Scarface Qiang through optimized Long Fist, targeted modifications, environmental traps, and extreme overdraft. 14 19 20
• Arena challenge — Despite severe injuries and core collapse risk, Lin Xiao defeats Liu Meng in the school arena by exploiting his lumbar injury, gaining campus notoriety and prize money. 23 24
• Martial Disciple breakthrough — Cornered in an abandoned factory, Lin Xiao breaks through to Martial Disciple peak and regains control of his unstable core. 26 27
• Su family conflict — He assists Su Qingxue by modifying Su Hao's cultivation route, then covertly interferes during the competition to help secure her victory. 29 38 40
• Ye family cooperation and revenge — After Ye Qingyan saves him from another Blood Wolf Gang ambush, Lin Xiao accepts her conditional protection, uses Ye family intelligence, and infiltrates the Obsidian bar to kill Scorpion. 44 45 47 48 50

Notable Quotes

“Can’t die.” 2

“Money... Energy Stones... I’m going to get my hands on them!” 11

“Scarface Qiang… Welcome… to my abattoir.” 27