Lao Yang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Lao Yang draws his childhood friend Wu Xie into an expedition to the Qinling Mountains. He knows far more about the route and the Bronze Branch than he initially admits, having previously excavated it with his cousin. When Huang Wei begins following the pair, Lao Yang senses that he is being watched and grows fearful that his identity has been discovered. 370 373

Distrusting Huang Wei, Lao Yang urges Wu Xie not to follow him and privately considers killing Huang Wei to conceal the truth. Once Huang Wei demonstrates cultivation abilities, however, Lao Yang begins reconsidering his plans, wondering whether a cultivator might be capable of reviving his mother. 370 371 373

Huang Wei gives Lao Yang and Wu Xie Pills for Cultivation. Unlike Wu Xie, Lao Yang expels no impurities during the cleansing process, reinforcing Huang Wei's suspicion that he is not a naturally existing person. He nevertheless gains enhanced strength, lifts a large rock, and begins cultivating alongside Wu Xie. 375 378 379

At the Bronze Tree's corpse cocoon, Huang Wei exposes Lao Yang's deception. Lao Yang admits that he deliberately lured Wu Xie into Qinling and used the materialization law of the site to fabricate their experiences, intending to use Wu Xie's memories to create a version of his deceased mother. 378 385

Huang Wei offers a genuine resurrection instead of a memory-based materialization. Lao Yang willingly permits Huang Wei to read his memories and leads the group to his home, where his mother's preserved corpse is kept in a refrigerator. Huang Wei reverses time to revive her, allowing mother and son to reunite. 385 386 387

Personality

Lao Yang is secretive, suspicious, and deeply anxious about exposure. He maintains the appearance of an ordinary person even after Huang Wei points out the implications of his impurity-free body, while internally fearing that Wu Xie has begun to suspect him. 370 375

His manipulation of Wu Xie is driven by desperation rather than indifference. He is willing to construct an elaborate expedition and exploit Wu Xie's memories for the chance to see his mother again, but immediately accepts Huang Wei's offer of a true resurrection and trusts him with his memories. 385 386

Abilities & Skills

Materialized Existence

Lao Yang is a non-natural life form sustained by a chain of laws. Huang Wei identifies the same materialization law in both Lao Yang and the fabricated phenomena within the Qinling site. 370 385

• Can use the Qinling materialization phenomenon to create fabricated events and entities. 385
• His plans rely on memories and imagination; he seeks Wu Xie's memories to materialize his mother. 385
• A materialized copy cannot replace genuine resurrection, which Huang Wei offers separately through time reversal. 385 386

Cultivation Aptitude

Huang Wei's Pill for Cultivation rebuilds Lao Yang's body and places him on the path of Qi Cultivation. 375 379

• Possesses an immaculate body with no impurities expelled during marrow cleansing. 375
• Demonstrates enhanced physical strength by lifting a large rock and breaking another with a punch. 375
• Has earth and fire attributes; he first manifests soil in his hand while learning to sense the surrounding earth. 378 379
• Remains only a first-level Qi Cultivation practitioner and lacks cultivation techniques or martial skills to fully apply his power. 379

Relationships

• Wu Xie — Childhood friend and the person Lao Yang manipulates into entering Qinling; he ultimately needs Wu Xie's memories to materialize his mother. 370 385
• Huang Wei — Initially viewed as a dangerous threat to Lao Yang's secret; becomes his cultivation guide, exposes his materialized nature, and genuinely resurrects his mother. 370 375 385 387
• Lao Yang's mother — His deceased mother is the motive behind the Qinling expedition. Huang Wei restores her through time reversal. 385 386 387
• Master Liang — Fellow explorer who witnesses Lao Yang's confession and Huang Wei's promise of resurrection. 385 386

Notable Quotes

“Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are up to heaven. Even if it's a dragon's pool or tiger's den, we have to brave it.” 384