Xu Yinglian

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xu Yinglian (徐应怜)
Alias(es)	Phoenix Fairy 30
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Kunlun Taiqing Sect; Xu Family of Tiannan 1
Occupation/Role	Personal disciple of the Ziwei Sect Master; Second Senior Sister of Kunlun's 280th generation 1 31
Cultivation	Qi Refining Stage 1 21
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background

Xu Yinglian was born to the prominent Xu Family of Tiannan and raised under great expectations. Her rare Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart made her an exceptional prospect; Kunlun admitted her without examination as a personal disciple of the Sect Master before the mountain-opening ceremony. 1

Her family arranged an engagement between her and fellow personal disciple Qiu Changtian. Both refused to become Dao Companions immediately, but the Ziwei Sect Master identified her fixation on defeating Qiu as an unstable Dao Heart. Xu acknowledged that, despite her talent and upbringing, living in Qiu's shadow had become unbearable. 2

Rather than abandoning the rivalry, Xu began pursuing improvement through it. Qiu's guidance exposed flaws in her sword control and helped answer her long-standing questions on cultivation, though his overwhelming knowledge initially left her deeply frustrated. 8 She later found a field in which she could claim victory over him: her extensive reading of the Daoist canon. 13

Appearance

Xu Yinglian is a refined, heroic-looking cultivator usually dressed in plain white Daoist robes. Her unadorned appearance and cold bearing are central to her reputation as the Phoenix Fairy. 1 19

• Exquisite features and a transcendent, refined aura. 1
• Long, dark hair reaching her waist, generally tied with a simple ribbon. 1 19
• Fair complexion and plain attire without rouge or elaborate ornaments. 19
• Carries the crimson Yujia Flying Sword, whose hilt bears a Divine Bird Crimson Feather relief. 1

Personality

Xu is proud, intensely competitive, and unwilling to accept defeat—especially from Qiu Changtian. She does not dislike him personally, but initially regards him chiefly as the opponent she must surpass. 18 Her need to win is strong enough that even the prospect of other people competing for Qiu's attention provokes her fighting spirit. 45 47

She is cold and reserved with most disciples, but her harsh exterior conceals a more receptive nature. After Qiu gives her sincere instruction, she listens carefully, recognizes her shortcomings, and thanks him with genuine admiration. 8 11 Her Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart also makes her highly perceptive of other people's motives, including Bilian's hostility toward her. 16 47

Abilities & Skills

Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart

Xu's rare innate aptitude granted her early admission to Kunlun and allows exceptional insight into people and situations. 1 16

• Enables her to see through provocations and concealed motives quickly. 16 20
• Gives her the aptitude to receive special lecture privileges alongside Kunlun's Chief Disciples. 16
• Contributes to her confidence, but also sharpened the disappointment she felt after encountering Qiu's superior talent. 2

Sword Control

Xu practices the orthodox Kunlun Sword Control Art and fights with precise, fast sword control.

• Her Yujia Sword outpaced Qiu's Yuyan Sword when both attacked the Tu Lou demonic beast. 20
• She killed the Tu Lou with a single slash to the neck, then coolly dismissed it as insignificant. 20
• She fought beside Qiu against a Marrow Cleansing-stage Yin Ghost Dao cultivator despite the realm disparity. 20 21
• Her swordsmanship and the Yujia's quality allowed her sword to resist the opponent's blood mist, though ghostly restraints still made it difficult to control. 21
• Against a Marrow Cleansing-stage opponent, her true qi was nearly exhausted; her sword's rank was a major reason she endured as long as she did. 21

Phoenix Bird Bloodline

Xu possesses a diluted Phoenix Bird bloodline. 3

• The Yujia Sword reportedly contains a forbidden spell that can only be activated through this bloodline. 21
• She intends to awaken the bloodline and master that forbidden spell as a means of surpassing Qiu Changtian. 21

Daoist Canon and Music

Xu is a widely read scholar and an accomplished zither player.

• She has read through the three thousand volumes of Kunlun's Daoist canon several times. 13
• She assisted Qiu in memorizing the Three Caves Chapters. 14
• She plays the zither and is seen performing beneath a winter plum tree during Kunlun's visit to Penglai. 13 49

Equipment

• Yujia Sword — Crimson family-heirloom Flying Sword of the Xu Family of Tiannan; a tenth-tier sword with a Divine Bird Crimson Feather design on its hilt. 1
• Phoenix Tail Zither — A zither-type magical artifact later given to Xu by Qiu Changtian. 49

Relationships

• Qiu Changtian — Senior Brother, principal rival, and arranged fiancé. Xu seeks to surpass him, yet relies on his guidance and repeatedly accompanies him on training missions. They are engaged but have not formally become Dao Companions. 2 19 45
• Ziwei Sect Master — Her master at Kunlun. He recognizes that her obsession with Qiu threatens her Dao Heart and encourages her to follow her own path. 2
• Xu Changqing — Her granduncle through the Xu Family genealogy and Kunlun's Foundation Establishment-realm Great Chief Disciple. 43
• Shi Liuli — Penglai's Eldest Young Lady and a hostile rival. Their first meeting at Penglai's welcoming banquet devolves into veiled insults concerning Shi Liuli's family status and Qiu Changtian. 48 49
• Bilian — A Penglai cultivator whose apparent interest in Qiu prompts immediate mutual hostility with Xu. 47
• Jian Qingnan — A younger disciple who admires Xu and wants to live near her, though Xu remains distant. 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Kunlun Rivalry

Xu challenges Qiu to a sword duel soon after his arrival at Kunlun. Although Yujia outranks his Yuyan Sword, Qiu defeats her through superior reactions and sword control; Xu vows to challenge him again and improve through her own strength. 1

Her rivalry escalates into a Dao Heart issue when the Sect Master confronts her over her obsession with defeating Qiu. Qiu subsequently begins mentoring her swordsmanship and cultivation theory in an effort to keep her from developing a heart demon. 2 7 8

Old Dragon Ridge Mission

Xu joins Qiu and several outer disciples on a demonic-beast hunting mission. She swiftly kills a Tu Lou, establishing her identity and strength before the group encounters a Yin Ghost Dao cultivator. 19 20

She and Qiu fight together against the Marrow Cleansing-stage enemy. Unable to overcome the realm gap through swordsmanship alone, she supports Qiu until he defeats the demonic cultivator with the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword's forbidden spell. 20 21

Earth Vein Expedition

Xu accompanies Qiu during an expedition into ruins once occupied by the Yin Ghost Dao. She helps protect the Kunlun disciples during battles with Corpse Spiders and enemy cultivators, then retreats with the group when Qiu collapses the corridors to secure their escape. 31 32

After witnessing Qiu's lightning magic, Xu decides she must learn Daoist Magic as well. She frames this not merely as rivalry, but as a need to become strong enough to accompany him on the cultivation path. 33

Penglai Visit

Xu travels with Qiu and the Ziwei Sect Master to Penglai Yuqing Temple. There, Shi Liuli's admiration for Qiu immediately clashes with Xu's pride and possessiveness. 48

Following the banquet, Xu plays the Phoenix Tail Zither beneath a winter plum tree and challenges Qiu over whether he intends to seek Shi Liuli out. 49

Notable Quotes

“I only wish to surpass my senior disciple brother. How can that be considered an unstable Dao Heart?” 2

“My objective is to surpass your Lightning Magic!” 33

“If my strength is far inferior to yours, how can you let me accompany you?” 33