Su Ling'er

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Su Ling'er (苏灵儿) 1
Gender	Female 8
Affiliation	Qing Xu Temple outer disciple; registered disciple of Gui Xi Sect while infiltrating it 1 8
Occupation/Role	Undercover investigator tasked with gathering evidence of Gui Xi Sect's evil cultivation practices 1
Status	Alive; continues operating within Gui Xi Sect after failed attempts to transmit intelligence 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Level 3	27	Her prior cultivation level at Qing Xu Temple; she had remained stalled there because of her four-element Pseudo Spiritual Root. 27
Qi Refining Great Perfection	29	Reached the Dao Seeking Ladder's hundredth step and received a torrent of Spiritual Power. The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual automatically circulated to refine it, but her Pseudo Spiritual Root prevented a Foundation Establishment breakthrough. 29

Background / History

Su Ling'er spent three years as an outer disciple of Qing Xu Temple. Her four-element Pseudo Spiritual Root—metal, wood, water, and earth—and poor aptitude left her with little spiritual power, limited resources, and little prospect of advancing beyond Qi Refining. 1 5 27

Xuan Yuan Daoist, Qing Xu Temple's Core Formation Realm sect master, selected her to infiltrate the newly risen Gui Xi Sect. In exchange for evidence of its alleged evil cultivation methods, he promised to accept her as a personal disciple, refine her meridians, and rebuild her spiritual roots. Su Ling'er accepted because it was her chance to reach Foundation Establishment and continue pursuing immortality. 1 27

At Gui Xi Sect's gate, she interpreted the contrast between its barren exterior and flourishing interior as proof that an evil formation was plundering the surrounding land's life force. Lin Qingfeng found her there and brought her into the sect. 1

Appearance

Su Ling'er is a slender young cultivator who commonly wears red clothing. Her long hair and red sleeves are noted during her time in Gui Xi Sect. 29 44 50

• Wears red sect attire after registering at Gui Xi Sect. 8
• Often carries her plain novice wooden sword. 11 24
• Keeps the Worry Flower near her dilapidated thatched hut. 19 33

Personality

Su Ling'er is driven by a fierce desire to escape the limits imposed by her aptitude. Pity and mockery from Qing Xu Temple's disciples deeply affected her, but they also strengthened her resolve to reach immortality rather than accept a mortal life of chores and resignation. 27 28

Her initial understanding of Gui Xi Sect is shaped heavily by storybooks and fear. She repeatedly interprets ordinary or unfamiliar events as elaborate demonic conspiracies, including her registration, meals, cultivation demonstrations, and Lin Qingfeng's guidance. 1 5 8 9

Despite her fear, she is highly adaptable under pressure. She conceals her suspicions by performing admiration for Lin Qingfeng, turns an accidental declaration that she wants to leave into a speech about “Shedding Sect,” and uses Junior Disciple Brother Zhan's death to buy herself time. 8 14 33

Her resolve later becomes increasingly pragmatic. Gui Xi Sect's rewards convince her to remain longer, accumulate resources, gather intelligence, and eventually use the sect's own wealth to support her pursuit of immortality. 42 43 46

Abilities & Skills

Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual

A purple-rank fundamental cultivation method imparted to Su Ling'er by Elder Qian Buyu. Its circulation route was directly demonstrated within her sea of consciousness. 21

• Strengthens the foundation, flesh, blood, and affinity with spiritual energy. 21
• Restores spiritual power and helps reduce the pain endured during cultivation. 21 43
• Was instrumental in refining the Dao Seeking Ladder's spiritual-energy reward and raising her to Qi Refining Great Perfection. 29
• Cannot overcome the final barrier to Foundation Establishment on its own while she remains constrained by her Pseudo Spiritual Root. 29

Dao Heart and Willpower

Su Ling'er's greatest strength is her refusal to surrender her chosen path.

• Climbed to the hundredth step of the Dao Seeking Ladder despite illusions of failure, exploitation, betrayal, and a peaceful mortal future. 27 28
• Rejected the implication that power or cultivation methods inherently determine one's moral path. 28
• Refused to let the fear-reflecting plant known as Shen Nong's masterpiece define or resolve her Inner Demons for her. 18
• Her Dao heart attracts Gui Xi Sect disciples who consider her especially suited to the Sword Refining Art—a fate she actively resists. 29 30

Star Treading Steps

An entry-level movement technique Su Ling'er acquired by exchanging one hundred stalks of Spiritual Grass. 45

• Channels a small amount of Spiritual Power to the soles of her feet. 45
• Greatly improves her mobility and efficiency while performing sect tasks. 45
• Lets her evade the Rock Armor Scorpion's attacks in the Monster Locking Tower. 46

Explosive Flame Art

An introductory offensive incantation exchanged for Spiritual Grass. 46

• Used to defeat a fierce ghost on the thirteenth floor of the Monster Locking Tower. 46
• Works in combination with her sword techniques and improved mobility. 46

Swordsmanship and Monster Locking Tower Combat

Su Ling'er initially relied on mortal martial arts and her wooden sword, refusing to reveal more of her cultivation while Lin Qingfeng observed her. 24

• Survived the first floors of the Monster Locking Tower with a wooden sword and physical agility. 24
• Later channels Spiritual Power through the wooden sword to kill the Rock Armor Scorpion. 46
• Repeatedly farms the tower's thirteenth floor for spirit stones and materials. 46
• Obtained a piece of soul bone after defeating a fierce ghost. 46

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Novice Wooden Sword Containing Special Power — A growable mortal weapon issued to her as a new disciple. It possesses the Tier 1 traits Sever and Ward Off Evil despite its crude wooden appearance. 11
• Worry Flower — A companion spirit plant grown from Shen Nong's Mysterious Seed. It is bound to Su Ling'er's vital blood, reflects her appearance, and grows by absorbing her negative emotions. 19
• Human Origin Soil — The black spirit soil in the Worry Flower's pot; Su Ling'er believes it is made from cultivators' flesh, blood, and souls. 19
• Blood Condensing Grass — A low-grade spiritual plant received for tending medicinal fields; it changes her view of Gui Xi Sect's task rewards. 42 43
• Spirit Contract Insect — A final-resort communication method supplied by Qing Xu Temple's sect master. Her attempts to use it to transmit intelligence are repeatedly intercepted and destroyed. 47 50
• Storage bag — Purchased after she began rapidly accumulating spiritual plants, spirit stones, and task rewards. 44 47

Relationships

• Xuan Yuan Daoist — Qing Xu Temple sect master who sent Su Ling'er to infiltrate Gui Xi Sect and promised to rebuild her roots if she succeeds. She views the mission as both a righteous duty and her best chance to reach Foundation Establishment. 1 27
• Lin Qingfeng — Gui Xi Sect Senior Disciple Brother and her assigned guide. He repeatedly pressures her toward the Sword Refining Art, while she feigns obedience and privately suspects him of manipulating her. 3 22 29 32
• Elder Qian Buyu — Gui Xi Sect elder and functional sect attendant who demonstrates the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual and manages various sect functions. Su Ling'er pities and fears him, believing him to be an enslaved puppet of the sect. 21 23 34
• Shen Nong — Eccentric spiritual-plant researcher who gives her the Mysterious Seed that becomes the Worry Flower. 18 19
• Junior Disciple Brother Zhan — A disciple who professes affection for Su Ling'er before dying after confronting Lin Qingfeng. She uses the event to delay Lin Qingfeng's efforts to force her into the Sword Refining Art. 32 33

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Undercover recruitment and registration — Sent by Qing Xu Temple to infiltrate Gui Xi Sect, Su Ling'er enters the sect under Lin Qingfeng's supervision and completes its registration process while believing she may have signed a contract of servitude. 1 8
• Gui Xi Sect tour — Lin Qingfeng introduces her to the Food Pavilion, Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, Spirit Beast Garden, Transmission Hall, Blessed Land, Monster Locking Tower, Dao Seeking Ladder, and Sword Mound. Each experience deepens her fear of the sect while supplying her with knowledge and resources. 9 30
• Sword Refining Art pressure — Lin Qingfeng and several disciples identify Su Ling'er's willpower as ideal for the Sword Refining Art. She repeatedly delays, refuses, or pretends to consider the path because she fears being made into a living weapon. 15 17 22 29 33
• Dao Seeking Ladder breakthrough — She confronts her resentment over her poor aptitude, her terror of Gui Xi Sect, and the temptation to abandon immortality. Reaching the hundredth step advances her to Qi Refining Great Perfection. 27 29
• Sect-task grind — Forced into repetitive chores, Su Ling'er eventually discovers that Gui Xi Sect's rewards far exceed what Qing Xu Temple gave outer disciples. She begins aggressively farming medicinal-field tasks, the Monster Locking Tower, spiritual plants, spirit stones, and techniques. 34 46
• Attempted intelligence transmission — After assembling significant supplies and intelligence, she attempts to contact Qing Xu Temple. Her communication jade slip fails against the sect formation, while released Spirit Contract Insects are repeatedly destroyed. 47 50

Notable Quotes

“My Inner Demons shall be slain by my own hands! My fears shall be overcome by my own hands! My Dao shall be forged by my own steps, one by one!” 18

“I want to see what kind of scenery lies at the summit of that mountain!” 28

“I will never become the immortal sword in your hands!” 29