Yang Jian

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yang Jian (杨戬)
Alias(es)	Erlang Shen
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chan Sect; disciple of True Man Yu Ding of Golden Cloud Cave, Jade Spring Mountain 16
Occupation/Role	Daoist cultivator; investigator pursuing stolen treasures; representative of the Monster Race during the Dragon Gang Ring investigation 195
Status	Active 316
First Appearance	Chapter 16: Unwelcome Request

Background / History

Yang Jian arrives before Goddess Nuwa as a handsome young man in white robes distinguished by a vertical third eye. Upon learning Nuwa's identity, he immediately shows formal respect; she identifies him as Yu Ding's disciple and notes their shared lineage through Primordial Lord of Heaven. 16

After his demon beast, the Sky-Howling Dog, vanishes, Yang Jian travels toward Chaoge to recover it. He burns three preserved drops of the dog's essence blood with Samadhi True Fire, producing a dog-shaped phantom that can indicate its direction within a limited range. His search is frustrated when the dog appears to have been concealed by a special method. 18 19

In Chaoge, Yang Jian aggressively questions the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden, suspecting them of taking the Sky-Howling Dog. His conduct alienates the two disciples and earns Zhao Gongming's disapproval, though he becomes markedly deferential when Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of Three Immortal Island identify themselves. 20 21 22

Yang Jian later infiltrates the royal palace by transforming into the Sky-Howling Dog and confronts Di Xin. He nearly kills the king before Wen Zhong drives him away with the Yin-Yang Whip. Yang Jian subsequently insists that he only meant to test Di Xin, not harm him. 40 42

He joins True Person Taiyi, Zhao Gongming, and the Three Ladies in investigating a series of stolen spiritual treasures. Lady Qiongxiao briefly considers him a suspect because his essence-blood tracking could explain the dog-related phenomena, but no conclusion is reached. 41 29

Yang Jian later assists Goddess Nuwa's search for the individual behind the thefts, including borrowing Yun Zhongzi's Monster-Revealing Mirror to examine beasts and demons on Heavenly Mountain. 151 154

Appearance

Yang Jian is a striking young man who commonly appears in white robes and travels by escape light. His most recognizable feature is the vertical third eye on his forehead. 16

• Handsome, youthful appearance. 16
• Usually wears white robes. 16
• Has three eyes, including a vertical eye on his forehead. 16 194
• Can alter his outward appearance through transformation arts. 17 19

Personality

Yang Jian is proud, forceful, and initially quick to accuse others when pursuing the Sky-Howling Dog. His suspicion of the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden creates immediate hostility, but he is careful not to learn their backgrounds when doing so might make further pressure politically dangerous. 21 22

He respects seniority and established power. He bows promptly to Goddess Nuwa, Zhao Gongming, and the Three Ladies once he recognizes their standing. 16 20

His attachment to Princess Longji exposes a more impulsive and jealous side. He is enraged by Di Xin's presence as her Dao companion, nearly attacks him, then regains control and apologizes when Longji rebukes him. 193 194 Yang Jian nevertheless continues to argue that his cultivation, resources, and Chan Sect connections make him a better match for her. 315

Abilities & Skills

Eight-Nine Arcane Arts

Yang Jian practices the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, allowing him to transform his form and conceal his identity.

• Transformed into a scholar while traveling toward Chaoge. 17
• Took the form of a small bird while tracking the Sky-Howling Dog. 19
• Transformed into the Sky-Howling Dog to enter the royal palace. 40 41
• Assumed forms including an Azure Luan Bird, a small insect, a village girl, and a monkey while surveilling Di Xin. 198 199 200 201
• His transformations are difficult to detect; Di Xin relies on the Sky-Howling Dog's reactions rather than exposing him directly. 199 201

Samadhi True Fire

Yang Jian can produce Samadhi True Fire and use it in tracking rituals.

• Burns the Sky-Howling Dog's essence blood to create a directional phantom of the missing beast. 18 19
• The method has a range of roughly ten miles and consumes his limited reserve of essence blood. 19

Cultivation and Combat Strength

Yang Jian is a Heavenly Immortal approaching a breakthrough into the Golden Immortal realm when he confronts Di Xin at Phoenix Mountain. Di Xin's Earth Flower Realm cultivation is described as vastly inferior to Yang Jian's. 194

• Flies through escape-light techniques. 16 314
• Uses Divine Sense to investigate and track targets. 19 41
• Can create a soundproof Restriction Array for private discussions. 195
• Overwhelms Di Xin in direct combat while transformed as the Sky-Howling Dog. 40

Monster-Revealing Mirror

Yang Jian borrows Yun Zhongzi's Monster-Revealing Mirror during the search on Heavenly Mountain.

• Uses the rune-covered bronze mirror to identify disguised Monster Beasts. 154
• The mirror is intended to reveal targets whose true forms may be hidden by transformation. 154

Equipment / Companions

• Sky-Howling Dog — Yang Jian's demon beast and tracking companion. Its disappearance drives his initial journey to Chaoge. 19
• Essence-blood jade bottle — Holds the Sky-Howling Dog's essence blood for Yang Jian's Samadhi True Fire tracking method. 18 19
• Monster-Revealing Mirror — A mirror borrowed from Yun Zhongzi to uncover Monster Beasts' true forms. 154

Relationships

• True Man Yu Ding — Yang Jian's master and a Chan Sect disciple under Primordial Lord of Heaven. 16
• True Person Taiyi — His uncle-master and fellow disciple of Yu Ding; Taiyi offers to help recover the Sky-Howling Dog. 41 42
• Sky-Howling Dog — His lost demon beast; Yang Jian expends its preserved essence blood to locate it. 19
• Goddess Nuwa — A senior figure who recognizes Yang Jian's lineage and later works with him to investigate the thefts on Heavenly Mountain. 16 151 154
• Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and Nine Nether Pure Maiden — Goddess Nuwa's disciples; Yang Jian falsely suspects them of taking his dog, creating lasting tension. 20 21
• Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of Three Immortal Island — Fellow investigators pursuing stolen treasures; Yang Jian treats them with formal deference. 20 41
• Wen Zhong — Opposes Yang Jian's palace intrusion and rescues Di Xin from him; Yang Jian later explains that he only intended to test the king. 40 42
• Di Xin / Long Shou — Rival for Princess Longji's affection. Yang Jian repeatedly tracks, tests, and confronts him, ultimately establishing a twenty-year covenant and future duel. 193 202 203
• Princess Longji — The object of Yang Jian's unreturned affection. He seeks to protect and win her over, but Longji openly chooses Di Xin instead. 193 194 315

Conflict with Di Xin and Princess Longji

Yang Jian first encounters Di Xin as Princess Longji's declared Dao companion at the Azure Luan Palace. The revelation leaves him shocked and jealous, especially because he had previously hoped that greater cultivation and status might eventually win Longji's affection. 193 194

After investigating the missing Dragon Gang Ring on behalf of Goddess Nuwa and True Person Taiyi, Yang Jian is expelled from Phoenix Mountain when his questioning provokes Longji. 195 196 He continues following Di Xin through repeated transformations, attempting to determine his identity and uncover any link to the missing treasures. 198 199 200

Yang Jian proposes a twenty-year agreement: Di Xin must not set foot on Phoenix Mountain during that time, after which the two will fight a fair duel; the loser must cease pursuing Princess Longji. Yang Jian also agrees that neither he nor Yu Ding will interfere with Di Xin's cultivation or become his enemy during the twenty-year period. 202 203

When Di Xin later returns to Phoenix Mountain's vicinity, Yang Jian guards the area and accuses him of violating the oath. Princess Longji rejects Yang Jian's claim that his Chan Sect background, cultivation, and resources make him the superior choice. The arrival of the Three Sage Emperors reveals Di Xin's influential connections, leaving Yang Jian humiliated and prompting his departure. 314 315 316