Nan Qin Honored One

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Nan Qin Honored One (南秦尊者)
Alias(es)	Founding Emperor of the Nan Qin Dynasty; Sword Ghoul
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Nan Qin Dynasty; World Under Heaven Swordsman
Occupation/Role	Founding Emperor; Nascent Soul cultivator; pill and artifact specialist; swordsman
First Appearance	123

Background and History

Nan Qin Honored One founded the Nan Qin Dynasty before eventually abdicating. While ruling, he selected more than a hundred sword cultivators to teach him, but failed to improve his Sword Dao. After leaving the throne, he traveled for centuries and specialized in the Pill Dao and Artifact Dao, though his obsession with swordsmanship never faded. 124 125

In his youth, he sought admission to the Heaven Sword Saint Sect, only for a deacon to judge that he had no talent for the sword. His self-created swordplay is considered usable for low-level cultivators but inferior to techniques such as the Pure Yang Five Swords Technique and Matchstick Swordplay. 124

He knew Bai Hongxiao from the latter's early travels, when Nan Qin Honored One was already a Nascent Soul cultivator. Their history includes Bai Hongxiao stopping Nan Qin's million-strong army with a single sword while supporting the Bei Wei Emperor's rise to the throne. 125 126

While Yi Xiaofeng was traveling through the Demon Realm under the alias Jiang Jing, Nan Qin Honored One approached him after learning he supposedly belonged to the Heaven Sword Saint Sect. Claiming friendship with Xiao Queming and Zhu Wu, he offered to escort Yi to Two Realms Mountain, though Yi initially suspected him of hostile intentions. 123

Yi impressed him by demonstrating Matchstick Swordplay. Recognizing the technique's depth and desperate to learn it, Nan Qin Honored One offered cultivation methods, pills, magical artifacts, and ultimately formal discipleship. He revealed himself as Nan Qin's founding emperor and kowtowed three times to acknowledge Yi Xiaofeng as his master. 124 125

Appearance

Nan Qin Honored One is an elderly, bearded cultivator whose awkward manner contrasts with his outwardly immortal-like bearing. He usually wears a smile and frequently strokes his beard. 123 124

• An old man with a beard and an “immortal-like” appearance. 123
• Uses a long sword in battle. 172
• Wears a ghost mask when acting under the identity of Sword Ghoul. 170

Personality

Nan Qin Honored One is prideful about his name, longevity, and former status. He expected Yi Xiaofeng to recognize him immediately and became repeatedly embarrassed when Yi did not. 123

His defining trait is his devotion to the Sword Dao. Despite acknowledging that his talent is extremely poor, he refuses to abandon swordsmanship and is willing to become the disciple of someone vastly younger to learn a superior technique. 124 125

He is protective of Yi Xiaofeng and increasingly reveres his master's talent and ability to find opportunities. He also worries deeply about Nan Qin's future, asking Yi to aid the dynasty if it ever faces destruction. 170 184

In later life, he accepts that his lifespan is nearing its end. Rather than fearing death, he hopes to spend his remaining years learning sword techniques from Yi Xiaofeng. 185

Abilities & Skills

Nascent Soul Cultivation

Nan Qin Honored One is a Nascent Soul cultivator with sufficient presence to intimidate other cultivators and frighten off Shapeshifting Great Demons during his travels with Yi Xiaofeng. 125 169

• Suppressed Jian Zhen with one hand, causing Jian Zhen's Spiritual Energy to stop circulating. 170
• Fought the Nascent Soul cultivator Red Heart Buddha using grand Taoist techniques during the battle against Black Night Mountain. 173
• Created a large Spiritual Energy shield against the Heaven and Earth Thousand Yuan Formation, though the formation's pressure injured him even after the group transferred Spiritual Energy to him. 231
• Was able to catch Zhuo Yulang's thrown dart between two fingers. 151

Swordsmanship

Although he lacks exceptional innate sword talent, Nan Qin Honored One is an experienced swordsman and an avid student of sword techniques. He recognizes the extraordinary value of Matchstick Swordplay and seeks instruction from Yi Xiaofeng. 124 125

• Assists Yi Xiaofeng in sparring and evaluating his Sword Qi. 133
• Uses a sword while operating as Sword Ghoul of the World Under Heaven Swordsman. 172
• Is outmatched in Sword Dao talent by Yi Xiaofeng and regards Bai Hongxiao's continued growth as terrifying. 128

Pill Dao and Artifact Dao

After abdicating the Nan Qin throne, Nan Qin Honored One spent centuries specializing in pill refinement and artifact-related arts. 125

• Provided Jian Zhen with a pill that rapidly restored his condition and revived the Emperor Heart Sword. 170
• Offered to refine Strange Colorful Ghost Flowers into pills. 180
• Understands pill refinement and soul-controlling herbs well enough to assist Yi Xiaofeng's plan involving Zhuo Yulang. 152

Knowledge of the Cultivation World

His long life and travel have given him broad knowledge of cultivators, secret realms, ancient entities, and political dangers. 177 180

• Warned that Ancient Secret Realms may contain existences beyond the understanding of Nascent Soul cultivators. 177
• Had encountered Nine Nether True Man, though he could not reliably compare him to Bai Hongxiao. 180
• Identified the likely Eight Ghost God Coffin as an immortal's coffin and recognized the danger it attracted. 226
• Explained Ghost Kill's assassination-for-hire system and its dependence on an employer's resources. 184

Equipment / Items

• Ghost mask — worn to conceal his identity as Nan Qin Honored One while fighting as Sword Ghoul. 170
• Long sword — used in combat against Black Night Mountain cultivators. 172
• Pills — carries refined medicine, including recovery pills used to treat Jian Zhen. 170

Relationships

• Yi Xiaofeng — His formal master and the person he calls “Little Master.” Nan Qin Honored One became Yi's disciple to learn Matchstick Swordplay, then pledged to fight for him in exchange for future aid to Nan Qin. 124 125 170
• Bai Hongxiao — An old acquaintance and former adversary. Bai once halted Nan Qin's army with a single sword; despite their tense history, the two later reminisce together. 125 126
• Xiao Queming — Claims to be a close friend of the Heaven Sword Saint Sect elder. 123
• Liu Ruqin — Liu is Nan Qin's princess; Han Yuan refers to Nan Qin Honored One as her ancestor, which she pointedly ignores. 77 125
• Han Yuan — Yi Xiaofeng's disciple and a frequent source of irritation; Han later teaches Nan Qin Honored One swordsmanship. 125 150
• Jian Zhen — Helped Nan Qin Honored One and Yi recruit Jian Zhen into their group; Nan Qin later provided Jian with a recovery pill. 170
• Chen Shi — Returned with her to Yi Xiaofeng after assisting in Dragon City's affairs. 337

Story Role / Major Arcs

Encounter in the Demon Realm

Nan Qin Honored One meets Yi Xiaofeng in the Demon Realm, identifies his supposed Heaven Sword Saint Sect connection, and escorts him toward Two Realms Mountain. 123

Yi Xiaofeng's Disciple

After witnessing Matchstick Swordplay, he reveals his identity as Nan Qin's founding emperor and formally becomes Yi Xiaofeng's disciple. Though initially angry that Yi had concealed his identity as Bai Hongxiao's disciple, he stays after Yi challenges the sincerity of his love for the Sword Dao. 124 125

Sword Ghoul of the World Under Heaven Swordsman

He joins Yi Xiaofeng's emerging organization under the masked identity Sword Ghoul, so his actions will not bring trouble to Nan Qin. He participates in the first battle of the World Under Heaven Swordsman against Black Night Mountain and confronts Red Heart Buddha. 170 172 173

Demonic Altar Conflict

Nan Qin Honored One helps investigate the Eight Ghost God Coffin and later defends Yi's group against the Heaven Sword Saint Sect's Heaven and Earth Thousand Yuan Formation. The effort leaves him severely injured. 226 231

Return to Nan Qin and Chaos God Province

He temporarily leaves Yi Xiaofeng's group to return to Nan Qin amid Immortal Lord Kong's threat, then later returns and follows Yi toward Chaos God Province. 256 282

Building the World Under Heaven Swordsman

In Chaos God Province, he helps advise Yi Xiaofeng on recruiting cultivators, building alliances with cities, and organizing the sect's affairs. 317

Notable Quotes

“This old man is just the Founding Emperor of the Nan Qin Dynasty.” 124

“Now this old one is no longer Nan Qin, but a swordsman of the World Under Heaven Swordsman, you can call this old one Sword Ghoul!” 170

Trivia

• Nan Qin Honored One is older than Xiao Queming by several hundred years. 124
• He repeatedly reacts poorly when Yi Xiaofeng asks him to compare himself with Bai Hongxiao. 123 180
• He believes Yi Xiaofeng may eventually surpass Bai Hongxiao, but regrets that his remaining lifespan may prevent him from witnessing it. 170