Third Gentleman

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Third Gentleman (三先生)
Alias(es)	Shen Xuanji; Chess Immortal; Karma Dao Venerable; Third Senior Brother; avatar of the Lord of San Ming 150 608 885
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Thatched Cottage
Occupation/Role	Thatched Cottage senior disciple; chess player and long-term strategist; cultivator of the Way of Karma 150 682
Status	Active through an avatar; his main body is engaged in the Twilight Ancient Ruins against the Void Origin Beings 888 891
First Appearance	Chapter 113

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Great Emperor Realm (publicly perceived cultivation)	334	Yu Qingxin identifies his apparent cultivation as Great Emperor Realm, though she cannot see through him.
Karma Heavenly Dao / Heaven Ascender-level combat	705 750	Manifests a self-created Karma Heavenly Dao, withstands borrowed Star-Silver Heavenly Dao power, and is regarded as possessing Heaven Ascender-level strength.
Eternal Realm	888	His attainment of the Eternal Realm is revealed while he is trapped in the Twilight Ancient Ruins.

Background & Identity

Third Gentleman is one of the senior disciples of the Thatched Cottage and is publicly known as the Chess Immortal. He regards the Divine Continent Pure Land as a chessboard and its living beings as pieces, making him renowned as the Origin Realm's unmatched strategist. 150

His deeper identity is gradually uncovered. The Progenitor of the Death Curse Tribe identifies him as Karma Dao Venerable, a peerless outsider who once competed with the Heavenly Progenitor for the position of Ancestral God. After conceding that position, he reincarnated and cultivated anew with exclusive focus on the Way of Karma. He is also said to have devoured the Heavenly Daos of more than eight Level 10 Universe Realms. 608

In the Land of Eternity, he appears as Shen Xuanji, a Karma Clone and avatar of the Lord of San Ming. While this avatar makes arrangements elsewhere, his main body remains unable to leave the Twilight Ancient Ruins because the Void Origin Beings imprisoned there threaten the Land of Eternity. 876 885 891

Appearance

Third Gentleman usually wears blue and presents himself with an ordinary, refined appearance. Despite his calm manner, observers consistently describe him as impossible to read or perceive clearly. 298 309 334

• Favours blue clothing. 309 885
• Carries an unfathomable, composed aura despite an outwardly ordinary appearance. 298
• His gaze can perceive concealed souls and fragments within another person's body. 885

Personality

Third Gentleman is patient, detached, and exceptionally deliberate. He rarely explains his full intentions before the proper time, believing that premature knowledge can entangle others in harmful heavenly causality. 327 504

He treats events as moves in a larger game, but his pragmatism is balanced by a firm protective principle: Thatched Cottage disciples must defeat peers of the same realm themselves, while senior brothers intervene when the strong bully the weak. 113 682

His confidence can appear intimidating. When Su Xi threatened the Thatched Cottage, he answered that the pieces on his chessboard could be killed with a single thought; however, he also accepts risks personally, including injury to his karmic foundation when shielding Ye Tianzheng from the complete Starry Sky Heavenly Dao. 357 801

Abilities & Skills

Karma Deduction and Prophecy

Third Gentleman uses the Way of Karma to perceive identities, possible futures, and hidden connections that others cannot detect.

• Predicted A Niu's future misconduct and the precise means by which he could avoid expulsion before A Niu had even joined the Thatched Cottage. 183
• Erased most of the karma surrounding his masked agent, preventing Yan Yu from finding even a trace of heavenly secrets. 230
• Deduced Pan Fan's identity as Ancient Venerable Pantian's adopted son without being told. 663
• Identified Yan Kunlun as the hidden Heaven Ascender assisting Ji Ya. 694
• Cannot casually alter every fate; he acknowledges that figures such as Ling Tian possess karma that is difficult to change. 376

Causal Transcendence

He can evade ordinary deduction and attacks by existing beyond conventional causal and Heavenly Dao constraints.

• The System identifies him as existing outside cause and effect, beyond Heavenly Dao order, and impossible to truly kill. 298
• An Order Power attack from the Desolate Ghost Ruler passed through him harmlessly and was swallowed by the River of Time. 580
• Origin Emperor Venerable's deduction of Shen Xuanji returned only “nothingness.” 885
• He can still be injured when struck by the complete Starry Sky Heavenly Dao; the attack damaged both his body and karmic foundation. 801

Karma Chessboard and Karma Heavenly Dao

His chessboard is a supreme karmic implement through which he manifests and controls his personal Heavenly Dao.

• Creates a Karma world capable of containing destructive shockwaves that would otherwise annihilate an entire Universe Realm. 705
• Formed a Karma Heavenly Dao that resisted the Star-Silver Heavenly Dao and severed the connection between the Heaven Punishing God Slaying Sword and its source. 705
• Suppressed Liang Mo Divine within the chessboard, sealing his power and five senses. 538
• Uses karmic power to alter a captive's physique, appearance, and aura, as demonstrated when he turned Liang Mo Divine into the Demon Puppet. 556
• States that he cannot kill the Star-Silver Heavenly Dao itself; he defeated Duan Kang by cutting the sword's karmic connection to it. 705

Time and Space Manipulation

Third Gentleman freely operates across the River of Time and can violate restraints imposed by the Heavenly Dao.

• Walks upon the River of Time without disturbing its waters and appears as though he does not exist. 259
• Travels to past eras, including the Azure Orchid Sea Domain of Southern Gate Immortal King's time. 377
• Dispelled the Heavenly Dao's Karma restraint from Southern Gate Immortal King and brought him into a later era through a Gate of Time and Space. 377
• Opened a passage into Infinite Space using Karma power, an act normally requiring a Ruler's strength. 618
• Broke Ji Ya's Canyang Zhetian Seal and captured her clone. 682

Strategic Planning and Cultivation

Third Gentleman organizes long-term schemes across eras, factions, and cultivation paths.

• Secretly orchestrated the Dark Race's emergence and the Xuanyuan Ancient Clan's destruction to push Xuanyuan Tianchen toward Immortal Martial. 334
• Revealed the Three Phases Society's origins, goals, leadership, and hidden base to Chu Yun and Su Xi. 356 357
• Sent the former chosen one into the outer star realms with a map to seek opportunities, judging his sword talent crucial to resolving the Calamity's source. 356
• Arranged for Yan Feiyu's rapid cultivation in exchange for removing him from Chu Yun's direct control. 498
• Provided Ye Taiping with a branch of the Star-Silver Tree to support his Heaven Treading ascension. 793

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Karma Chessboard — His primary karmic implement; can manifest the Karma Heavenly Dao, form a Karma world, imprison targets, and suppress battle aftermath. 538 705
• Heaven Punishing God Slaying Sword — Seized from Duan Kang after severing its connection to the Star-Silver Heavenly Dao. 705
• Frozen Sky Devouring Demon — A royal Sky Devouring Demon preserved in ice and gifted to Chu Yun because of Chu Yun's Sky Devouring Demon Pearl. 300
• Demon Puppet and Soul Control Stone — A Half-step Ruler combat puppet, created from Liang Mo Divine and presented to Chu Yun as a hidden trump card. 556 557
• Star-Silver Tree Branch — Given to Ye Taiping to aid his breakthrough toward Heaven Treading. 793

Relationships

• Chu Yun — His Seventh Junior Brother. Third Gentleman arranges protection for him, gives him strategic guidance and powerful gifts, and entrusts the Origin Realm to him during his time-travel investigation. 113 300 557
• Master — His teacher at the Thatched Cottage. Master acknowledges that Third Gentleman has surpassed him in progress, though Third Gentleman still withholds parts of his plans from him. 150 504
• Mu Qianli — His Second Senior Sister. They frequently discuss Thatched Cottage affairs; she challenges his secrecy but trusts his judgment regarding Chu Yun and Xuanyuan Tianchen. 150 334
• Xuanyuan Tianchen — His resurrected agent and guard. Third Gentleman engineered circumstances for Tianchen to attain Immortal Martial, and Tianchen protects him when Su Xi threatens him. 248 334 357
• A Niu — A Thatched Cottage junior tasked with secretly observing and protecting Chu Yun. Third Gentleman’s prophecy and contingency plan repeatedly safeguard A Niu. 113 183 215
• Curse — A confidant and chess companion who accompanies him across time to recruit Southern Gate Immortal King. 355 377
• Gu Jiujun — A beneficiary of Third Gentleman's past assistance. In repayment, Gu Jiujun hands the Evil Infant Realm's Realm Lord token to Chu Yun. 314
• Yan Feiyu — A concealed world-level trump card placed under Third Gentleman's cultivation after Chu Yun accepts their agreement. 498 504
• Meng Xie — A trusted subordinate and messenger. Third Gentleman assigns him tasks involving the Heaven Punishing God Slaying Sword, the Ice God Clan, and the World Ending Old Man. 634 694 773
• Southern Gate Immortal King — An old acquaintance recruited from a past era to help secure the Origin Realm. 377

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protection of the Seventh Gentleman

Third Gentleman establishes the Thatched Cottage's policy toward Chu Yun: Chu Yun must face equals himself, but senior disciples will not tolerate stronger opponents bullying him. He sends A Niu to observe from the shadows and prepares contingencies for threats beyond A Niu's ability. 113 215

He later gifts Chu Yun a surviving royal Sky Devouring Demon, precisely matching Chu Yun's possession of the Sky Devouring Demon Pearl and confirming his extraordinary knowledge of his junior brother. 300

Xuanyuan Tianchen Scheme

Third Gentleman resurrects Xuanyuan Tianchen, conceals his karma, and deploys him as a masked protector for Chu Yun. 215 230 248

He ultimately admits that he arranged the Dark Race's emergence and the fall of the Xuanyuan Ancient Clan to force Tianchen past his shackles and into Immortal Martial, because Tianchen is essential to stopping Su Xi from unleashing the Dark Omen. 334

Three Phases Society Investigation

When Chu Yun brings Su Xi to the Thatched Cottage, Third Gentleman reveals that the Three Phases Society arose from the corrosive residue of the first Primal Chaos Calamity and seeks to accelerate the Origin Tribulation. 356 357

Although Su Xi suspects him of belonging to the Society because of his knowledge, he rejects the accusation and agrees to act as a piece in Chu Yun's plan to expose the hidden forces. 356 357

Journey Through Time

Third Gentleman travels into the past to investigate an overlooked truth behind the destruction of the Titan Race and Hell Realm's intrusion into Forbidden God Valley. Before leaving, he gives Chu Yun the Demon Puppet and instructs him to protect the Origin Realm. 557 608

After returning, he reveals that the hidden mastermind is among four key figures but withholds the name until Chu Yun is prepared. He persuades Ling Tian and the Desolate Ghost Ruler to pursue the mastermind, while warning the other Rulers to defend their own star realms. 618

Battles Beyond the Origin Realm

He defeats Duan Kang and neutralizes the Heaven Punishing God Slaying Sword's borrowed Star-Silver Heavenly Dao power without allowing the battle's shockwaves to destroy the surrounding Universe Realm. 705

In the Molian Realm, he attempts to subdue Ye Tianzheng through his Karma Heavenly Dao, but is seriously injured when the Heavenly Eye attacks him with the complete Starry Sky Heavenly Dao. 801

Lord of San Ming Revelation

As Shen Xuanji, Third Gentleman reappears in the Land of Eternity and is exposed as an avatar of the Lord of San Ming. He joins Nether God Emperor Venerable against Origin Emperor Venerable while awaiting the formation of the Primordial Essence. 885

After reaching the Eternal Realm, his main body becomes trapped in the Twilight Ancient Ruins by the Void Origin Beings. His avatar is repeatedly forced to return there whenever their breakthrough battles threaten to overwhelm the Land of Eternity. 888 891

Notable Quotes

“If someone from the Thatched Cottage cannot win against someone of the same realm, then they are not worthy of joining the Thatched Cottage.”
— Third Gentleman 113

“I like playing chess. Strictly speaking, I'm just a chess player.”
— Third Gentleman 682

“The pieces on this chessboard, if I wish them dead, it only takes a single thought.”
— Third Gentleman 357