Nie Xuan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Nie Xuan (聂玄)
Alias(es)	Team Leader Nie
Species/Race	Human Player
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Special Defense Department; Vanguard Squad
Occupation/Role	Special Defense Department team leader
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 38

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second evolution with spatial characteristics	321, 1667, 1678	Xu Huo identifies that Nie Xuan has undergone a second evolution after sensing an abnormal fluctuation from his right foot. He is later identified as a super evolver whose evolution followed a space-ray injury; both legs possess spatial characteristics and require protective gear to conceal them.

History

Early cooperation with Xu Huo

Nie Xuan first approached Xu Huo during the early player crisis, offering a reward for intelligence or assistance in capturing a Cannibal Player. He viewed Xu Huo's willingness to negotiate and cooperate as a promising basis for future collaboration. 38

He later fought directly against a Cannibal Player at a mall, using the Justice Steel Pipe to deflect thrown benches and engage the opponent in close quarters. 74

Nie Xuan repeatedly attempted to recruit Xu Huo into the Vanguard Squad. His conversations with Xu Huo were often probing but pragmatic, including attempts to learn more about the Super Artifact while offering official resources and cooperation. 121

Special Defense Department leadership

During the Fog Zone incident, Nie Xuan—despite being seriously injured and using a wheelchair—intervened to stop Hou Song from killing a Vanguard Player. He delegated the disposal of bodies and evidence to his subordinates before arranging a private discussion with Xu Huo. 321

His operational achievements and repeated instance gains gave him considerable influence within the Special Defense Department. Team Leader Song later targeted Nie Xuan's personnel with dangerous assignments, causing heavy losses and deepening internal conflict. 575

At the border, Nie Xuan managed ongoing instability caused by the imbalance between District 014's internal and external affairs. He regarded Xu Huo's detoxifying fungus as a critical source of hope for the region's defenses. 603

Spatial evolution and super-evolver operations

Nie Xuan's spatial evolution is treated as a high-level state secret. After being struck by a space ray, he underwent super evolution; the effects remained concentrated in his legs, which later also retained traces of time power after another exposure. 1667 1678

He helped organize access to a dangerous evolution site in the primeval forest, recruiting and assessing players with unusual traits when civilian player organizations were unwilling to trust the Special Defense Department. 1683 1684

Although he became increasingly influential, Nie Xuan's decisiveness and tendency to act on his own judgment made him politically contentious within the department. The military eventually promoted “Ubiquitous Little Ming” as a more conventionally rational counterweight to his leadership. 2317

Pursuit of Dou Shengnan

Nie Xuan tracked Dou Shengnan while disguised and coordinated with Xu Huo after her attack on the Tian family. 2148

He and Xu Huo planned to use Xu Huo as bait, accepting that the operation against a powerful mental super evolver would require severe personal risk. 2160

During their confrontation in the Chongming Bird Administrative Region, Nie Xuan deployed energy weapons and fought alongside Xu Huo inside a non-game simulation venue, where ordinary items were blocked and their available advantages were sharply reduced. 2162 2164

After the battle, he concealed parts of the truth from the Special Defense Department, reporting Xu Huo as severely injured and missing while remaining in District 008 to pursue a possible breakthrough of his own. 2169

Later operations

Nie Xuan continued supplying Xu Huo with high-level items, instruments, and emergency resources through the Special Defense Department. He also supported preparations for threats to District 014 and offered to guarantee the safety of Xu Huo's family should Xu Huo be unable to return. 2704 2884

He remained active in District 014's defense, leading a team in pursuit of outer-zone players who had robbed a player base and were attempting to evade capture near the coast. 2926

Appearance

Nie Xuan is typically seen in formal or operational clothing, including a suit during early Special Affairs operations and black trench coats during later deployments. 74 1667

• Often wears a suit jacket, though he removes it before close combat. 74
• Uses a wheelchair while recovering from severe injuries during the Fog Zone incident. 321
• His legs must normally be concealed with specialized protective equipment because of their spatial characteristics. 1678
• Has used disguises while tracking high-risk targets. 2148

Personality

Nie Xuan is analytical, disciplined, and strongly duty-driven. He approaches Players as both potential allies and potential threats, preferring to assess their value, motives, and risks before committing resources. His repeated recruitment attempts toward Xu Huo reflect both strategic judgment and a willingness to cooperate with independent Players. 38 121

He is decisive to the point of being politically difficult to manage. Within the Special Defense Department, he is respected for converting plans into action quickly, but his habit of maintaining his own judgment in exceptional situations creates friction with other power centers. 2317

His methods can be harsh. During the black-rain investigation, he used a lethal micro-capsule on the captured Mr. Lin while attempting to force information from him. 637

Despite his guarded nature, Nie Xuan values the few relationships he has. His partnership with Xu Huo develops from wary negotiation into mutual reliance during life-threatening operations. 2160

Abilities & Skills

Spatial Evolution

Nie Xuan's super evolution is associated with exposure to space rays.

• His legs possess spatial characteristics and must be specially protected to prevent information leaks. 1678
• Xu Huo identifies his second evolution through an abnormal energy fluctuation from his right foot. 321
• He endured a near-fatal space-ray injury and later recovered sufficiently to resume leadership duties. 1571 1667

Tactical Analysis

Nie Xuan excels at assessing incomplete evidence, identifying operational risks, and forming actionable plans.

• Deduced that the black rain was likely generated by a high-level item and ordered a full search of the affected residential area. 637
• Presented evidence and theories regarding Xu Huo's possible connection to the reappearing Seventeenth Hospital instance. 667
• Recognized the limitations of items and instruments when planning against Dou Shengnan, including the possibility that she possessed an item usable even while disconnected from the game. 2157
• Contributed informed discussion on the ray-like nature of time power and space power. 2337

Command and Coordination

As a team leader, Nie Xuan directs personnel, manages official resources, and coordinates field operations.

• Organizes searches, arrests, evidence collection, and cleanup through Special Defense Department personnel. 321 637
• Recruits and evaluates Players for major evolution-site operations. 1683 1684
• Maintains authority over subordinates even when operating outside District 014. 2160
• Leads pursuit teams against outer-zone players targeting District 014's resources. 2926

Close-Quarters Combat

Nie Xuan is capable of personally engaging dangerous Players rather than remaining solely a commander.

• Fought a burly Cannibal Player directly with the Justice Steel Pipe. 74
• Participated in the battle against Dou Shengnan despite facing a mental super evolver far stronger than himself. 2162 2164
• Continued operations after repeated severe injuries and near-death experiences. 321 1571

Equipment

• Justice Steel Pipe — A white, arm-length steel pipe used to deflect heavy objects and fight in close quarters. 74
• Specialized leg protection — Conceals the spatial characteristics of his legs. 1678
• Lethal micro-capsule — Planted in Mr. Lin during the black-rain investigation as leverage during interrogation. 637
• A-class-effect consumable instruments — Carries teleportation, space-interference, space-locking, space-defense, and space-attack instruments for large-scale operations. 2149
  • Six teleportation instruments.
  • Three space-interference instruments.
  • Six space-locking instruments.
  • Six space-defense instruments.
  • Twelve space-attack instruments.

Relationships

• Xu Huo — Initially a recruitment target and carefully assessed independent Player; their relationship develops into a pragmatic partnership built through repeated crises, shared intelligence, and mutual trust. 38 121 2160
• Dou Shengnan — High-priority adversary whom Nie Xuan tracks and confronts alongside Xu Huo in the Chongming Bird operation. 2148 2162
• Team Leader Wu — Fellow Special Defense Department leader who values Nie Xuan's operational ability and influence within the department. 575
• Team Leader Song — Internal rival whose dangerous assignments caused major losses among Nie Xuan's personnel. 575
• Minister Ji — Senior official who values Nie Xuan's future but pressures him to compromise for broader national interests. 2969
• Shen Xin — Associate whom Nie Xuan brings to Xu Huo's meeting concerning time evolution. 2337

Notable Quotes

“Destiny's every gift to me comes with a clear price.” 2148

“Friends, I really don't have many.” 2160

“What is there to be afraid of?” 2160