Ning Xuan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ning Xuan (宁玄)
Alias(es)	Qingfeng; General Ning Anyuan; Gu Mozhou (assumed name)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ning Family; Wangyue Prefecture; Divine General Plan; Five Poisons Cult (later involvement)
Occupation/Role	General Anyuan; martial artist; demon hunter; Celestial Master collaborator
Status	Alive
First Appearance	5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Physique 1.4	8	Uses the Heavenly Demon Scroll’s temporary physique enhancement to endure extreme training; retains the resulting gains after deactivation.
Martial arts breakthrough	25	Comprehends Swallow Jing more deeply through life-and-death nightmare combat and creates the saber strike Yan He.
Spirit 5	48	Digests a Stealing Incense Rat Pill refined with prefectural Dragon Fire; his base mental attribute rises from 1 to 5.
Dual First Rank	60	Reveals his Dual First Rank strength to Yaozhen Immortal Aunt.
Nature 12	62	Absorbs incense from Bodhisattva statues, raising his Nature attribute to 12.
Second Rank martial artist	70	Breaks through after five days of cultivating the Lingyan Small Group Skill with Lu Xuezhi.
Third Rank martial artist	79	Refines Yuan Xiaoye’s talisman, gains five forces through 325 years of nightmare cultivation, and kills the third-rank Gong Sizhi.
Fourth-grade Life Establishment Realm	83	Enters the fourth-grade realm; later cultivates the third-rank method Sensing Heaven and Earth, Transforming Substance into Void.
Physique 22.2	84	Raises his physique from 21.4 to 22.2 through spirit cultivation and the “Heavenly Perception, Earthly Response, Transform Reality into Void” technique.
Mid- and late Fourth-grade	92	Uses the Poison Yuan Human Molt to reach mid-Fourth-grade, then uses Yin Soul Ning Xuan as a Fate Establishing Divine Object to reach late Fourth-grade.

Background / History

Ning Xuan is the son of Ning Taiyi, known publicly as Old Master Ning. He was deliberately raised as a dissolute young master—associated with drinking, gambling, and pleasure—to conceal the Ning family’s connection to a mysterious court and to avoid suspicion over the family’s succession arrangements. His elder brother inherited the family’s dangerous responsibilities, while Ning Xuan inherited its wealth and status. 17

Despite his cultivated reputation for idleness, Ning Xuan becomes intensely committed to strengthening himself after obtaining access to the Heavenly Demon Scroll. He trains through methods his ordinary body could not initially withstand, using temporary enhancements to generate lasting physical improvement. 8 9

His father eventually reveals the family’s political position: Ning Taiyi is the true Prefect of Wangyue Prefecture, and Ning Xuan’s growing strength makes him suitable to become a General. Ning Xuan agrees to support the family’s plans, including a marriage alliance intended to protect the Ning family. 17 26

He is appointed General Anyuan, with authority over Wangyue and Ping'an Prefectures, under the Divine General Plan. His duties bring him into repeated conflicts with Yao, Mo, Incense Demons, and human forces collaborating with demons. 35 36

Appearance

Ning Xuan is a young man whose appearance closely resembles Ning Taiyi’s. He often presents himself as a relaxed, indulgent nobleman, though his physique changes drastically when he summons refined Heavenly Demon Scrolls. 6 8

• Usually wears loose dark robes when acting outside the manor. 49
• Can temporarily enlarge his body through the Heavenly Demon Scroll. 8
• Possesses a powerful martial physique that later reaches the threshold of Third Rank and beyond. 78 84

Personality

Ning Xuan is pleasure-seeking, lazy by preference, and frequently attempts to avoid responsibilities that do not directly concern him. He enjoys fine wine, courtesans, hunting, horse riding, and the comforts of Chenxiang Pavilion, although growing power gradually makes many of his former hobbies feel uninteresting. 31 32 55

Beneath this outward indulgence, he is cautious, calculating, and unusually patient. He refuses to refine dangerous powers without sufficient information, preferring preparation and testing over reckless risks. 16 He often hides the full extent of his strength, later adopting the principle of “hide nine, reveal one.” 60

He values his family’s safety and repeatedly avoids political commitments that could endanger those around him. Though he can be ruthless toward enemies, he shows genuine concern for soldiers, civilians, and people under his protection. 36 63

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Demon Scroll Refinement

Ning Xuan can observe beings with Heavenly Demon Life Attributes, enter nightmare-like trials connected to them, and forcibly refine their Heavenly Demon Scrolls. Failure means death and dissipation; success lets him use the target’s power as his own. 78

• Temporarily boosts his physique, spirit, and combat capacity. 8 48
• Lets him access refined targets’ martial techniques and characteristics. 78
• Requires him to survive and complete dangerous nightmare trials. 23 78
• Has been used to refine the Ghost Shadow Horse Monkey, Stealing Incense Rat, Master Baiyue, Yuan Xiaoye, and Lu Xuezhi. 14 54 78 79

Nightmare Cultivation

Ning Xuan can use nightmare experiences to undergo years or centuries of training in a short span of real time.

• Learned and refined martial arts through repeated life-and-death combat. 25
• Spent 325 years cultivating through Yuan Xiaoye’s talisman nightmare. 79
• Uses nightmare practice to test dangerous cultivation methods before applying them in reality. 87
• Gains technical understanding and battle experience that far exceed his real-world training time. 78 84

Incense and Bodhisattva Body

After absorbing incense from Bodhisattva statues, Ning Xuan gains the ability to form and manipulate incense-based bodies.

• Creates an Incense Golden Body for combat. 61
• Can shape incense shells into different forms once his refined demon spirit reaches the necessary level. 59
• Learns that incense, faith, and loyalty can empower demonic manifestations. 59
• Uses the Stealing Incense Technique to absorb incense from Bodhisattva statues. 31

Saber Arts

Ning Xuan first develops through the Swallow Chasing Wind Saber and its footwork.

• Swallow Return Secret Steps — footwork learned from Zhang Erquan; emphasizes difficult movement training. 7 8
• Flying Swallow Mountain Collapse — self-created saber technique combining speed and force. 8
• Yan He — saber strike developed through his understanding of Swallow Jing. 25
• Swallowtail Strength — technique used with his Incense Golden Body to defeat Master Baiyue. 61

Five Poisons Martial Arts

After refining Lu Xuezhi’s Heavenly Demon Scroll and Yuan Xiaoye’s talisman, Ning Xuan gains access to the Five Poisons Cult’s martial methods.

• Great Python Bite — serpent-based force technique. 78
• Scorpion Tail Hang — scorpion-based force technique. 78
• Toad’s Inhale Exhale Strength — produces force through breath and mist-like manifestations. 79
• Tangled Silk Play, Dragon Coil Bite, Horse Stumble Thorn, Thousand Hands, and Inhale Exhale — five forces learned through nightmare cultivation. 79
• Thousand Silk Playful Strength — self-created development of Thousand-Thread Net Strength that can restrain and control targets. 77

Pure Yang Furnace

Ning Xuan learns the Pure Yang Furnace secret art from Han Yin while in Yang Soul form. 89

• Can return Great Yin Ghosts to their initial state. 89
• Requires Yang patterns; five Yangs form one furnace. 89
• His Nine-Five foundation theoretically permits up to nine Pure Yang Furnaces. 89

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ruyi Blade — renamed from Master Baiyue’s shattered Zen staff after Ning Xuan defeats him. 62
• Tiger Tally — proof of his authority as a General; also restricts his ability to leave his fief without notice. 49 64
• Bodhisattva statues — sources of incense for his Stealing Incense Technique. 31 62
• Light Barrier Bell — used to isolate areas and conceal conversations or cultivation. 78 83
• Poison Yuan Human Molt — a Five Poisons Cult legacy used in his advancement to mid-Fourth-grade. 82 92
• Heavenly Demon Scrolls — refined supernatural records that grant him borrowed forms, attributes, and techniques. 8 78

Relationships

• Ning Taiyi — father; the true Prefect of Wangyue Prefecture. Ning Xuan ultimately cooperates with his political and marriage plans to protect the Ning family. 17 26
• Xiao Jie / Lady Jie / Madam Jie — former personal maid and later concubine. Ning Xuan protects her after her identity as Bai Yufei is exposed; she manages much of his household and remains deeply devoted to him. 5 48 59
• Lu Xuezhi — wife and dual-cultivation partner; a renowned general with a Five Poisons martial inheritance. Their cultivation helps Ning Xuan break through multiple martial stages. 70 76
• Yaozhen Immortal Aunt — Son of Heaven’s Emissary and Ning Xuan’s Celestial Master partner. She supports his cultivation, provides pills, and assists his campaigns against demons. 35 41 61
• Ugly Slave / Ning Gang — Ning family retainer and Celestial Master who watched over Ning Xuan since childhood; initially takes Ning Xuan as his Daoist Boy. 18 26
• Zhang Erquan — martial instructor who teaches Ning Xuan the Swallow Return footwork and arranges medicinal treatment for his training injuries. 7
• Ruan Qingzhu — Lu Xuezhi’s mother and Ning Xuan’s mother-in-law; eventually accepts him as her son. 82
• Qin Shanjun — former Great General Qin; alternately an ally, political threat, and participant in the struggle surrounding the Five Poisons Cult. 63 78
• Madam Zhao — Qin Shanjun’s wife. She later assists Ning Xuan at the Great General Qin residence and grows fond of him. 64 79
• Han Yin — surviving Five Poisons Sect member who teaches Ning Xuan the Pure Yang Furnace before sacrificing herself to save him. 89

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Training and Family Secrets

Ning Xuan recruits Xiao Jie as his maid, begins martial training under Zhang Erquan, and discovers that his father’s public identity conceals deeper political and supernatural authority. 5 7 17 26

Manfeng Mountain and Demon Refinement

While serving as Ugly Slave’s Daoist Boy, Ning Xuan faces Yao and Mo through nightmare trials, develops Swallow Jing, and begins learning the true nature of Dragon Qi and demon refinement. 18 23 25 26

General Anyuan and the Ping'an Crisis

After receiving the title of General Anyuan, Ning Xuan leads forces into Ping'an Prefecture, investigates the Hell of Cold Ice, fights Human Skins and Incense Demons, and works alongside Yaozhen Immortal Aunt. 35 36 37 41

Shanyang Prefecture

Ning Xuan confronts Master Baiyue and the demon occupying Shanyang Prefecture. He kills Baiyue, claims the Ruyi Blade, refines demonic power in Shanyang City, and takes charge of Great General Qin’s mansion. 54 61 62 63 64

Marriage and Five Poisons Cultivation

His marriage to Lu Xuezhi gives him access to the Lingyan Small Group Skill and later the Five Poisons Cult’s martial inheritances. Refining Lu Xuezhi’s scroll dramatically expands his combat potential. 70 78

Fourth-grade Advancement

Ning Xuan gains the Poison Yuan Human Molt, enters the Fourth-grade Life Establishment Realm, develops his Yang Soul cultivation, and learns the Pure Yang Furnace from Han Yin. 83 84 89

Trivia

• Ning Xuan was seventeen by the end of the events described in Chapter 83. 83
• He prefers to avoid unnecessary political entanglements, even after becoming a General. 32 41
• He finds cooking and ordinary mortal life unexpectedly enjoyable after centuries of nightmare cultivation. 79
• His household calls Xiao Jie “Madam Jie,” despite her status as a concubine, because she manages much of the manor’s affairs. 48