Qi Zhengyan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Qi Zhengyan (齐正言)
Alias(es)	Demon Emperor 1211
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Flower Washing Sword Sect; former companion in the Lord of Six Paths Samsara’s reincarnation missions 8 17 740
Occupation/Role	Flower Washing Sword Sect disciple; former deputy steward in Yi City and head manager in Ye Du 197 220
Status	Active 1278
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Four Apertures	199	Had cultivated the fourth Cosmic Mirror layer, Jade Ice Snow, to minor success; was nearing the Nasal Aperture and could contend with most Seven- or Eight-Aperture opponents if he fought openly.
Seven Apertures	297	Trains with Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei to stabilize his Seven Apertures.
Opening the Senses	329	Reveals that the Cosmic Mirror can draw on heaven-and-earth power before the Outer Scenery realm; defeats Human Ranking expert Fang Bai with Thousand Miles of Ice Seal.
Perfect Half-step	590	Reaches Perfect Half-step and gains an initial sense of Dark Chaos, the Cosmic Mirror’s sixth level.
Outer Scenery	670	Returns from an Outer Scenery remnant with a markedly deep, unfathomable aura.
Dharma Body	1073	Has recently advanced to the Dharma Body realm and continues deducing the higher chapters of his own universal cultivation method.

Background / History

Qi Zhengyan first appears as an “ordinary disciple” of the Flower Washing Sword Sect: a blue-robed young man in his early twenties whose grave, mask-like expression makes him seem far older than his years. He is selected into the Lord of Six Paths Samsara’s missions alongside Meng Qi, Jiang Zhiwei, Zhang Yuanshan, and others. During an early mission, he takes responsibility for navigating an unfamiliar forest and leading weaker companions toward the main road. 8 29

He initially keeps the full nature of the Cosmic Mirror hidden. This secrecy limits how freely he can intervene in conflicts, even when his actual strength exceeds what his apparent cultivation suggests. 199

As deputy steward of the Flower Washing Sword Sect’s holdings in Yi City, Qi Zhengyan manages a rice shop, fields, estates, and affiliated businesses. The position gives him relative independence, but places him amid a struggle between the sect and Yi City’s Tang, Ye, Ling, and Wan families. 197 199

His cousin’s hand and foot tendons are severed by the Ye Family’s guest official, Ghost Shadow Sword Li Sui. Qi Zhengyan is enraged but constrained by his sect superior’s caution and by the danger of exposing his own abilities. Meng Qi kills Li Sui and returns his sword to Qi Zhengyan before the wine prepared to welcome him has even been opened. 199 201

After the Yi City conflict, Qi Zhengyan is transferred to Ye Du as the Flower Washing Sword Sect’s head manager for grain, oil, salt, and related shops. He uses the post’s networks to assist Meng Qi, exchanges Meng Qi’s bandit gems for banknotes, and spars with him during periods of cultivation. 220 222

Qi Zhengyan later challenges Fang Bai publicly and establishes his name on the Human Ranking. His use of the Cosmic Mirror’s ability to invoke heaven-and-earth power at the Opening the Senses stage becomes known as an extraordinary fortuitous encounter rather than exposing the technique’s true origin. 329

He eventually reveals that he obtained the Demon Lord’s Legacy, which transformed his body and granted him Demonic Arts. Though Meng Qi accepts him as a brother, Qi Zhengyan concludes that his ideals will inevitably conflict with the sects and aristocratic families tied to his companions. He leaves the reincarnation team using the Farewell Contract. 684 740

As the Demon Emperor, Qi Zhengyan advances a doctrine centered on equal access to cultivation. He develops a Peerless Divine Skill that establishes a shared foundation for the Martial Way, breaking the monopoly of major sects over cultivation methods and allowing qualified people of any background to learn. 685 1070 1073

Appearance

Qi Zhengyan is a tall, sturdy man usually seen in a plain blue or green robe, carrying himself with a restrained severity that contrasts with the Flower Washing Sword Sect’s elegant swordsmanship. 8 329 670

• Early twenties at his first appearance, with little of the vigor normally associated with his age. 8
• His face is habitually expressionless, described as iron-mask-like or corpse-like. 8 29
• His demeanor becomes increasingly profound after reaching Outer Scenery, giving even his ordinary appearance an unusual presence. 670
• Can disguise himself effectively; in Yingcheng, he appears as a hunched, dark-faced traveler carrying crutches. 402

Personality

Qi Zhengyan is taciturn, restrained, and deeply private. He rarely offers unnecessary explanations, habitually suppresses his emotions, and keeps his strongest methods hidden when disclosure could endanger him or his companions. 199 402 729

His quiet exterior conceals strong loyalty. He assists Meng Qi with finances, intelligence, cover stories, and dangerous requests, regarding them as brothers who should help one another through circumstances beyond their control. 222 224

He can also be ruthless when protecting his secrets. After the Flower Moon Battle, he kills Master Tang Wu and Steward Lin to prevent the exposure of his Jade Ice Snow true qi. 205

Qi Zhengyan’s defining conviction is that cultivation opportunities should not be monopolized by birth, sect, or family. He believes the strong should advance through effort while everyone receives the chance to cultivate; this ideal ultimately outweighs his desire to remain with his former companions. 684 685 740

Abilities & Skills

Cosmic Mirror

Qi Zhengyan’s foundational divine skill is the Cosmic Mirror, a comprehensive Peerless Divine Skill whose successive layers cultivate specialized energies and allow him to employ power beyond his apparent realm. 114 199

• Earth Kunlun corresponds to the first four apertures. 114
• Jade Ice Snow is its fourth layer, usable from the Eye and Ear Apertures through the Eight Apertures stage. 114
• Purple Star River is the fifth layer and possesses inherent moves comparable to Outer Scenery killing techniques. 370
• Dark Chaos is the sixth layer, associated with surpassing the first Heavenly Ladder. 590
• At the Opening the Senses stage, it lets him draw upon heaven-and-earth power without displaying the normal interaction of Inner and Outer Worlds. 329

Ice Soul Cold Light Sword Art

Qi Zhengyan exchanges for the lost Ice Soul Cold Light Sword Art as his External Scene sword technique. 263

• Thousand Miles of Ice Seal overwhelms Fang Bai’s Five Dragons Probe Claw and forces Fang Bai to surrender. 329
• Myriad Snowflakes broadens his Outer Scenery options so opponents cannot easily predict his sole major killing move. 370
• His sword strikes can freeze, redirect, and draw hostile force into the surrounding environment, as shown against Dugu Shi’s spear assault on the Angry River. 736

Demonic Arts and Demon Lord’s Legacy

Qi Zhengyan inherits the Demon Lord’s Legacy, which changes his body and grants him Demonic Arts while placing him on a path of continual danger and ideological conflict. 684 740

• His eyes can become a pitch-black abyss that inflicts terror and spiritual torment associated with the Nine Nether. 726
• He can use bloodline-linked secret techniques to locate a missing person or summon traces of a deceased person’s obsession. 726 730
• His Dharma Image can separate from his body and act independently, enabling simultaneous distraction, infiltration, and attack. 738
• His human-headed, dragon-bodied, six-armed Dharma Image embodies slaughter and destruction. 738 1067
• He manifests the Stars of Equality and Self-Strengthening, using Equality to suppress and draw power from the Demon Emperor’s Claw. 1067 1073

Flower Washing Sword Sect Swordsmanship

Qi Zhengyan retains the Flower Washing Sword Sect’s refined sword foundation despite the Cosmic Mirror and later Demonic Arts becoming his defining powers.

• Uses the Sunset and Autumn Water Sword in formal combat. 329
• His sword-drawing motion contains multiple concealed variations, allowing him to respond to attacks before the blade is fully drawn. 329
• The sect’s artistic sword intent remains visible in his poised, ink-splash-like movements. 329

Tactical Judgment

Qi Zhengyan grows from a quiet supporter into a proactive planner and investigator.

• Identifies and exploits a plot within the Nine Mountains Army by using an apparent assassination attempt to flush out the real conspirators. 726
• Deduces the utility of correctly arranging the Nine Poses of Muscle Tendon Change, saving the group substantial Merit Points. 370
• Handles threats through deception and controlled disclosure, including offering a bloodline-tracing technique to redirect suspicion in the rebel camps. 726 730

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dragon Pattern Red Gold Sword — Acquired to counter demonic creatures; later upgraded into a Treasure Weapon, then high-grade and top-quality Precious Weapon. 82 263 683 722
  • When activated, it can summon the Hornless Cold Chi, an Outer Scenery entity capable of freezing opponents. 447
• Heavenly Crystal Battle Robe — Defensive armor purchased before a death mission; especially strong against direct collisions. 722
• Earth-Escape Golden Light Talisman — Secret treasure selected from the Chen land spoils for self-preservation. 610
• Golden vertical-eye artifact — Enhances his abilities and helps conceal his identity. 370

Relationships

• Meng Qi — Sworn brother, sparring partner, and closest long-term ally. Meng Qi avenges Qi Zhengyan’s cousin, protects the secret of the Cosmic Mirror, and accepts Qi Zhengyan’s Demonic Arts despite their eventual ideological divide. 201 329 684
• Jiang Zhiwei — Former reincarnation companion whom Qi Zhengyan respects; in his farewell message, he describes her as magnanimous, forthright, and righteous. 740
• Zhang Yuanshan — Former reincarnation companion and the “true senior brother” Qi Zhengyan strives to emulate for treating people equally regardless of status. 17 740
• Ruan Yushu — Former reincarnation companion; Qi Zhengyan respects her hidden kindness and courage. 740
• Zhao Heng — Former reincarnation companion and later political counterpart; the two share an understanding of the burdens imposed by their chosen paths. 740 1211 1278
• He Mu — Meng Qi’s disciple who later negotiates with Qi Zhengyan over access to his universal cultivation method; Qi Zhengyan respects He Mu after seeing the Five-Colored Immortal Sword. 1073
• The Demon Lord — Source of the legacy and knowledge Qi Zhengyan inherits; the legacy grants him immense power but continually threatens to corrupt him. 684 740 1235

Story Role / Major Arcs

Reincarnation Missions

Qi Zhengyan begins as one of the early companions selected by the Lord of Six Paths Samsara. He survives dangerous missions with Meng Qi’s group while concealing the Cosmic Mirror and gradually becoming a dependable combatant. 17 38 256

Yi City Conflict

As Flower Washing Sword Sect deputy steward, Qi Zhengyan becomes entangled in Yi City’s factional conflict and seeks justice for his maimed cousin. Meng Qi’s killing of Li Sui lets Qi Zhengyan confront the Ye Family with greater confidence, but the incident also exposes how difficult it is for him to wield his own strength openly. 199 201 205

Jiangdong Challenges

Qi Zhengyan travels to hone himself against younger martial artists. His victory over Fang Bai earns him public recognition and demonstrates the Cosmic Mirror’s exceptional ability to invoke heaven-and-earth power before Outer Scenery. 321 329

Demon Lord’s Legacy and Departure

Having accepted the Demon Lord’s Legacy, Qi Zhengyan becomes increasingly aware that his commitment to equal cultivation opportunities will place him against the established sects and noble families. After the death mission at the Angry River, he leaves the reincarnation team rather than force his friends into a conflict of beliefs. 684 740

Demon Emperor and the Southern Wilderness

As Demon Emperor, Qi Zhengyan founds a new cultivation order in the Southern Wilderness. He works to distribute a Peerless Divine Skill usable by people without elite backgrounds, while negotiating with the Righteous Path to delay open conflict and preserve room for those who seek his teachings. 1067 1070 1073

Notable Quotes

“If all of this is arranged by the heavens, then I will kill my way to the heavens! If it is destined by fate, I will alter the karma!” 684

“I do not envy them. I only wish that everyone has the same opportunity to cultivate, and that the strong advance while the lazy retreat!” 684

“What meaning is there in living for ten thousand years as a walking corpse? I am on this path, and though I face death nine times over, I have no regrets.” 1211

Trivia

• Qi Zhengyan’s usual expressionlessness is so pronounced that Meng Qi repeatedly compares him to a zombie or someone with a corpse-like face. 29 240
• Despite his reserved manner, he is capable of dry humor; when Meng Qi asks for the “real reason” behind an action, Qi Zhengyan correctly identifies that Meng Qi’s stated reason is only superficial. 222
• His path eventually helps create a world where cultivation opportunities are broadly equal, removing the need for him to remain in opposition to society. 1413