Xu Chang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xu Chang (徐长)
Alias(es)	Senior Brother Xu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lingyun Martial Arts School; aligned with Li Xing's faction
Occupation/Role	Senior disciple; Stance Skill instructor and mentor
First Appearance	25

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Bright Strength	34	Had entered Bright Strength two years earlier; cultivated Cloud Palm to Great Accomplishment before completing his Stance Skill.
Bottleneck breakthrough — failed	52	Suffered severe Qi and Blood Backlash after a failed breakthrough attempt; suspected that Li Shi or Shi Yan had disrupted him.
Hidden Strength	101	Recovered and later achieved a Hidden Strength breakthrough, becoming far more confident about high-reward work connected to Tiger Head Mountain.

Background

Xu Chang served as an instructor for newly accepted disciples at Fist Manor. During Stance Skill practice, he corrected individual errors and recognized that Lin Yin possessed unusually accurate movements, controlled breathing, and exceptional comprehension despite a weak physical foundation. He appointed Lin Yin to guide the other recruits. 27

He later recommended Lin Yin for selection as a Living Stake and publicly defended that choice when Li Qianjiang accused Lin Yin of entering through the “back door.” Lin Yin’s entry-level Stance Skill vindicated Xu Chang’s judgment, allowing him to recommend Lin Yin for formal admission into Lingyun Martial Arts School. 31 32

After Lin Yin entered the school, Xu Chang personally introduced him to the Inner Court and training grounds, then taught him the school’s ultimate art, Cloud Palm. Their relationship developed from instructor and junior disciple into a close mutual-support partnership. 33 34

Xu Chang became embroiled in the school’s factional conflict with Wan Li and Yun Hai’s side. He sought to strengthen Li Xing’s faction by recruiting Lin Yin, securing Great Medicine for him, and offering practical aid such as helping him relocate near the school. 35 44 49 53

His own breakthrough attempt failed, leaving him with depleted Qi and Blood and visible injuries. After Lin Yin provided the rare Qi Connecting Vine, Xu Chang recovered; he later feigned continued backlash to conceal his improving condition from rivals. 52 56 64

Personality

Xu Chang is patient and perceptive as an instructor. He closely observes students’ posture, breathing, stamina, and Qi and Blood circulation rather than judging them solely by Bone Structure. His recognition of Lin Yin’s technique comprehension came despite Lin Yin’s poor measured foundation. 27 31

He is protective of people he considers his own. Xu Chang defended Lin Yin before hostile disciples, warned him to avoid Wan Li, assisted with his move, and advocated for him to receive faction resources. 31 35 44 49

Beneath his refined and steady demeanor, Xu Chang is ambitious and politically aware. He understands the importance of factions, Great Medicine, and Ming Jin practitioners to Li Xing’s position. His failure to break through made him more cautious, while his later recovery and Hidden Strength advancement restored his confidence. 49 52 64 101

Xu Chang can also become intensely driven by opportunities for advancement. The discovery of the Spirit Cleansing Flower convinced him that Tiger Head Mountain’s exotic beast might improve Bone Structure aptitude, making him eager to pursue it despite the associated danger. 83 114

Abilities & Skills

Cloud Palm

Xu Chang has cultivated Lingyun Martial Arts School’s Cloud Palm to Great Accomplishment after two years of practice. 34

• Demonstrates a continuous, layered offensive style in which each palm strike feeds into the next. 34
• Can accumulate force through successive palm strikes before concentrating it into a powerful finishing blow. 34
• His final palm can project Gang Wind before contact, disturbing surrounding dust. 34
• Used his superior realm in Cloud Palm to spar with and test Lin Yin’s newly advanced technique. 50

Stance Skill and Martial Cultivation

Xu Chang is an experienced practitioner of the Cloud Settling Stake Technique and understands the progression from entry-level Stance Skill through Condensing Strength and beyond. 32

• Emphasizes that Stance Skill is the foundation of martial practice and warns against prioritizing combat techniques over Qi and Blood cultivation. 47
• Understands the dangers of breakthroughs, including Qi and Blood dispersal and backlash after failure. 32 47 52
• Recovered from a failed breakthrough with assistance from the Qi Connecting Vine, then later reached Hidden Strength. 56 101

Instruction and Cultivation Guidance

Xu Chang is a capable teacher who gives detailed technical instruction rather than merely demonstrating forms. 27 34

• Corrects stance, elbow position, breathing, and Qi and Blood movement during group training. 27
• Taught Lin Yin Cloud Palm form by form, including breathing, rhythm, and transitions. 34
• Advises disciples not to overtrain or neglect food and recovery after strenuous practice. 25 26
• Warned Li Qingying to focus on her training and not become distracted by Lin Yin’s absence. 122

Relationships

• Lin Yin — Junior brother, student, and trusted ally. Xu Chang recognized Lin Yin’s unusual talent, recommended him for formal entry, taught him Cloud Palm, and repeatedly supported his advancement. Lin Yin later repaid this care with the rare Qi Connecting Vine. 27 32 34 49 56
• Li Xing — Senior disciple and faction leader. Xu Chang supports Li Xing’s side in the school’s internal struggle and persuaded him to invest Great Medicine in Lin Yin. 49 50 53
• Li Qingying — Junior disciple under Lin Yin’s guidance. Xu Chang helps look after her, trusts Lin Yin to care for her, and later scolds her when she loses focus during practice. 81 89 122
• Shi Yan — Former ally whose actions became a source of resentment. Xu Chang suspected Shi Yan of interfering with his failed breakthrough and reacted furiously when Shi Yan defected to Yun Hai’s faction. 52 82 84
• Wan Li — Rival disciple associated with Yun Hai’s faction. Wan Li provoked Xu Chang and was later identified as the person who had obstructed Xu Chang’s breakthrough. 35 66
• Yang Quan — Associate connected to the Tiger Head Mountain expedition. Xu Chang and Yang Quan attempted to persuade Lin Yin to join them. 114

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Fist Manor instruction — Oversees new recruits, identifies Lin Yin’s exceptional understanding of Stance Skill, and appoints him to guide other trainees. 27
• Lin Yin’s admission — Recommends Lin Yin, defends him against accusations of favoritism, and brings him into Lingyun Martial Arts School. 31 32
• Cloud Palm mentorship — Personally teaches Lin Yin the school’s signature palm art and becomes his principal martial mentor. 34
• Faction conflict and failed breakthrough — Backs Li Xing’s faction, recruits Lin Yin as support, then suffers a sabotaged breakthrough attempt and Qi and Blood Backlash. 49 52
• Recovery and concealment — Accepts Lin Yin’s Qi Connecting Vine, regains strength, and fakes continued weakness to mislead opponents. 56 64
• Tiger Head Mountain pursuit — Becomes determined to seek the exotic beast associated with the Spirit Cleansing Flower, hoping to improve Bone Structure aptitude. 83 114
• Hidden Strength advancement — Ultimately recovers from his earlier setback and breaks through to Hidden Strength. 101