Dean Xiao

Biodata

Background / History

Dean Xiao personally welcomes Lu Jun to Pearl Academy after hearing of his actions during the Bo City Disaster, waiving the entrance assessment. Before Lu Jun officially enrolls, Xiao offers to arrange the handling of curse materials Lu Jun brings to the academy 25 31.

At the freshman Beast Fighting Competition, Xiao urges students to pursue the highest magic rather than treat an academy place as a route to wealth or fame. After Lu Jun defeats the entire freshman cohort, Xiao oversees the outcome and prepares rewards suited to him 32 37 39.

Xiao later approves direct advancement to the Main Campus for Lu Jun and Ding Yumian, judging the usual assessment unsuitable for both. He arranges for Pearl to host an inter-academy exchange competition and selects Lu Jun among its representatives. After Pearl wins, he helps Lu Jun obtain special metals as his reward 48 49 54 55.

When Lu Jun becomes Water Institute chief, Xiao offers to take him as a disciple. He describes formation construction and defense as the focus of his Water and Space magic, and subsequently gives Lu Jun a Water Bead he used in his youth 70 71. Xiao continues to support Lu Jun’s development, including appointing him to lead a Pearl exchange team and sending him a promised Star River Vein after he joins the National Mansion competition 82 152.

Appearance

Dean Xiao is an elderly man who wears glasses 25 39.

• Adjusts his glasses while speaking with students 31 48.
• Is later described stroking his beard 140.

Personality

Xiao is gentle in conversation with Lu Jun, but expects him to earn resources through effort rather than rely entirely on gifts. He advises Lu Jun to balance work and rest without losing himself in pleasure 70. He also protects students whose circumstances put them at risk: he removes Ding Yumian from a trial roster and later shelters both her and Lu Wei Xi at Pearl Academy 55 248.

Abilities & Skills

Forbidden Curse magic

• Xiao is a three-element Forbidden Curse mage. His Water and Space Elements are specifically identified; the provided context does not name his third element 70 265.
• He specializes in defensive magic and formation construction, including spatial teleportation arrays 70 269.
• He can teleport himself and another person over a distance of at least several hundred meters 71.
• During the defense of Magic City, he merges with a Sub-Emperor Water Element Spirit and suppresses the Mirage Sea Dragon Ant Mother 301.

Relationships

• Lu Jun — Disciple. Xiao admits him to Pearl Academy, guides his cultivation, supplies resources, and fights alongside him against the Pacific Empire’s forces 25 70 71 265 269.
• Ding Yumian — Pearl student whom Xiao protects; she regards him as one of the two people she cherishes most 55 266.
• Lu Wei Xi — A young Light Element Calamity whom Xiao accepts into Pearl Academy’s Youth Class 132 135.
• Professor Yuan — Pearl researcher whom Lu Jun asks to co-lead an exchange team after Xiao appoints Lu Jun its leader 82.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Mariana Trench expedition — Xiao leads a secret team into Pacific Empire territory. After Lu Jun proposes staying to confront the Vicious Dragon Emperor, Xiao accepts his help and teleports the other team members away before the battle 265 266 269.
• Magic City defense — Xiao joins the Forbidden Curse mages’ planning and fights the invading Demon Emperors. He later pursues the surviving enemies with Lu Jun toward Jinzhou 299 301 302 303.

Notable Quotes

“What we lack are eternal hearts that pursue the highest magic!” 32

“My most proficient magic lies in the Water Element and Space Element, but not for combat. They are for formation construction and defense.” 70