Li Gan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Gan (李干)
Alias(es)	“Ancestor” of the Divine Sword Sect, an identity others mistakenly assign to his black-cloaked persona 138
Species/Race	Human; a transmigrator reborn into his present body 138
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Divine Sword Sect; Heartless Peak; Dao Sect as a Grand Elder 161 201
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, master of the Heartless lineage, and bell-ringer of Chenzhong Terrace 20 161 176
Status	Alive; Longevity Realm, early stage 225

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Foundation Establishment — Qi Sensation	4	Stabilized his Qi Sensation Seed on his first attempt, an unusually rare result 4
Foundation Establishment — Internal Breath	6	Chen Bell’s first advancement fed power back into him and accelerated his meridian cultivation 6
Internal Force / Eight Extraordinary Meridians	10	Began opening the Yangwei Meridian with Internal Force after completing the Twelve Standard Meridians 10
Postnatal Realm — Fifth Layer	20	Reached the fifth layer while his Heartless Sword Art attained Minor Accomplishment 20
Postnatal Realm — Eighth Layer	23	Advanced to the eighth layer; Heartless Sword Art was on the verge of Great Accomplishment 23
Heartless Sword Intent — Comprehended	28	Comprehended Heartless Sword Intent and unlocked Myriad Transformation Sword Qi 28
Postnatal Realm — Ninth Layer	31	Reached 99% progress toward the next major realm; Heartless Sword Art was perfected 31
Heartless Sword Intent — Virtual Image Grade	31	Sword intent developed from mere comprehension into the Virtual Image grade 31
Heartless Sword Intent — Illusion Grade	43	Gained mental-level offensive effects and the ability to create hallucinations 43
Xiantian True Qi — Late Stage	53	Established a stable late-stage true-qi foundation 53
Heartless Sword Intent — True Phenomenon Grade	57	Its effects could influence reality rather than only attack the mind 57
True Essence Realm	61	Formed a four-symbol field of liquid true essence 61
True Essence Realm — Late Stage	82	Reached late-stage true essence while refining Demon Stone essence 82
True Dan Realm — Early Stage	90	Advanced after his Immaculate Sacred Body reached perfection; awakened the embryonic Blood Qi Sacred Domain 90
True Dan Realm — Mid Stage	95	Continued progressing rapidly due to his perfected physique 95
Great River Sword Qi — First Layer	118	Completed the first layer, greatly strengthening his sword-intent cultivation 118
Heavenly Human Realm — Early Stage	128	Reached the Heavenly Human Realm as Heartless Sword Intent entered the Heavenly Phenomenon grade 128
Heartless Sword Intent — Heavenly Phenomenon Grade	128	Could continuously unleash Heavenly Phenomenon-grade attacks while intent remained available 128
Heavenly Human Realm — Mid Stage	132	Broke through in the Tianzhi Mountain Range; his Blood Qi Sacred Domain fully formed 132
Heavenly Human Realm — Late Stage	160	Reached 99% progress at the late stage during his breakthrough to Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent 160
Heartless Sword Intent — Myriad Phenomena Grade	160	Retained his sense of self through countless dream-lives and formed the Myriad Phenomena Sword 160
Martial Saint Realm	162	Forged a life sacred artifact by using Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent as its core and survived thunder tribulation 162
Heartless Sword Intent — Myriad Phenomena, Second Layer	176	Continued advancing after more than seventy-seven years of bell-ringing cultivation 176
Great Saint Realm	180	Endured a second thunder tribulation and advanced after consuming more than two thousand Origin Stones 180
Martial Saint Realm — Mid Stage	192	Continued cultivating the Nine Swords of Divine Firmament while recorded at the mid stage 192
Heartless Sword Intent — Myriad Phenomena, Seventh Layer	196	Advanced dramatically during an Epiphany and Return to Void experience 196
Martial Saint Realm — Late Stage	221	Reached the late stage after Heartless Sword Intent entered the ninth Myriad Phenomena layer 221
Longevity Realm — Early Stage	225	Survived the Inner Demon Tribulation; his body became a Longevity Spirit Body and his primordial spirit became a Yang Spirit 225
Heartless Sword Intent — Perfected	225	Reached perfection upon entering the Longevity Realm 225

Background / History

Bell Tower Disciple

Li Gan cultivated at the Divine Sword Sect’s Bell Tower, where daily practice with the Chen Bell rapidly advanced his Qi Sensation, Internal Breath, and martial comprehension. The bell’s feedback compensated for his lack of resources and became the foundation of his unusually fast growth. 4 6 7

After refusing to surrender a Treasure Map to Yi Zhong, Li Gan sought status and protection through the sect’s re-examination. Gatekeeper Zhou Buping recognized his comprehension after Li Gan perfected the basic Sword Piercing Fist and accepted him as a Personal Disciple, making him an Official Disciple. 17

Heartless Lineage

Under Zhou Buping’s instruction, Li Gan learned the Heartless Sword Art and received the resources and treasure sword allotted to a Personal Disciple. He remained at Chenzhong Terrace to ring the bell and cultivate, prioritizing steady progress over the Combat Ranking List, sect status, or short-term opportunities. 18 20 23

His sword path accelerated through the comprehension of Heartless Sword Intent, the Immaculate Sword Body, and later the Immaculate Sacred Body. He eventually entered the Sword Tomb, refined Sword Eighteen with Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent, and inherited increasingly powerful sword techniques. 28 33 57 160

The Black-Cloaked “Ancestor”

While investigating demons and ancient ruins in a black cloak, Li Gan was mistaken for a hidden ancestor of the Divine Sword Sect. He did not publicly correct the misconception, instead using the persona to provide array diagrams and eliminate threats without exposing himself. 138

The sect’s belief in this “ancestor” later became a strategic advantage. Li Gan’s fox-puppet avatar used the Chen Bell Domain to repel a demon assault on the Divine Sword Sect, further cementing the legend. 199

Heartless Peak and Later Years

Following Li Gan’s rise as a Heavenly Human, the Divine Sword Sect established Heartless Peak to continue Zhou Buping’s lineage. Li Gan took disciples despite his preference for solitude, selecting hidden bone-grade talents for their disposition rather than worldly recognition. 140 161

As his cultivation rose, he repeatedly defended the Divine Sword Sect and nearby populations from demons, demon cultists, and hostile factions. He later entered the Longevity Realm and began teaching named disciples in Yiling Town’s Taoist temple. 154 180 226 228

Appearance

Li Gan’s body changed dramatically through cultivation. Within several months of beginning martial practice, he grew to roughly 1.8 meters tall; after completing major body-forging techniques, his appearance gained a refined, almost divine quality. 7 44 90

• Grew more than twenty centimeters in a little over four months of cultivation 7
• Fair, smooth skin with a faint jade-like luster after a physical rebirth 44
• Ordinary facial features, but deep eyes and an unusually refined aura 90
• Uses a black cloak to conceal his identity when acting as the sect’s supposed ancestor 75 138

Personality

Li Gan is reserved, cautious, and strongly attached to a quiet cultivation life. He avoids public competition, official positions, and restrictive appointments when they would distract from his practice or expose his secrets. 20 112 118

He is pragmatic rather than indifferent. Li Gan protects those under his care, arranges long-term support for Li Mo, assists Chen Yong’s cultivation, and intervenes when powerful cultivators slaughter civilians. 43 53 226

He also values patience over ambition. When Pang Bai sought to excavate ancient ruins, Li Gan warned against gambling one’s life on uncertain opportunities, a view vindicated by the sect’s heavy losses during a later excavation. 132

Abilities & Skills

Chen Bell / Chenzhong

Li Gan’s sacrificial tool develops as he rings and refines it daily. Its advancements feed power back into him, helping him overcome cultivation bottlenecks. 6

• Became a Dharma Tool with defensive, offensive, aura-concealing, self-repairing, and healing functions 21
• Enhances cultivation and martial comprehension through its tolls 6 105
• Its domain can dispel demonic mental influence and defend the Divine Sword Sect against large-scale attacks 199
• Stores spirit energy, which became important after Li Gan entered the Longevity Realm and ordinary primordial energy no longer benefited him 225

Heartless Sword Art and Sword Intent

Li Gan perfected the Heartless Sword Art and developed its corresponding sword intent through multiple grades, ultimately reaching perfection in the Longevity Realm. 31 225

• Illusion-grade intent attacks the mind and can generate hallucinations 43
• True Phenomenon-grade intent can influence reality 57
• Myriad Phenomena-grade intent allowed him to form and refine the Myriad Phenomena Sword 160
• Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent serves as the core of his Martial Saint life sacred artifact 162

Myriad Transformation Sword Qi

A secret technique unlocked alongside Heartless Sword Intent. It gathers the essence of heaven and earth into a single powerful sword strike. 28

• Used with the Chen Bell to kill a fire-sacrifice mage during an escort mission 38
• Functions as one of Li Gan’s primary high-power offensive techniques 28

Great River Sword Qi

A sword art that visualizes and recreates a vast river of sword intent. The Chen Bell greatly eased Li Gan’s initial comprehension of the technique. 105

• Completed the first layer and carved a massive gap through a cliff while testing its power 118 119
• Draws heaven-and-earth origin qi across a radius of several thousand meters when activated 119
• Reached third-layer perfection during Li Gan’s later seclusion 194

Immaculate Sacred Body

Li Gan’s body-forging path progressed from the Immaculate Sword Body into the Immaculate Sacred Body, producing repeated physical transformations and supporting his pursuit of perfect Xiantian cultivation. 33 44 90

• Strengthens his body’s capacity to absorb and refine energy 63 82
• Reached perfection before his True Dan Realm breakthrough 90
• Enabled exceptionally fast cultivation progress compared with ordinary cultivators 95

Blood Qi Sacred Domain

A divine ability born after Li Gan’s Immaculate Sacred Body reached perfection. It is especially effective against demons. 90 149

• Fully formed at over thirty zhang and can absorb heaven-and-earth origin qi 132
• Can deprive targets of blood qi and manifest blood-qi spirits 154
• Can convert captured demons into blood puppets, though early control was limited by the domain’s progress 154
• Used to defeat demons, defend Baibi City, and suppress intruders at the Divine Sword Sect 149 154

Primordial Spirit and Return to Void

After becoming a Martial Saint, Li Gan could control his life sacred artifact through his primordial spirit from hundreds of miles away. 162

• Developed the Epiphany trait through Primordial Spirit Observation, temporarily increasing cultivation efficiency by roughly a thousandfold 179
• Enters a Return to Void state that sends him into the hostile Yellow Sand World, where higher-level energy can improve his physique, primordial spirit, true qi, and sword intent 196 197
• Gained measurable boosts to cultivation, comprehension, and attack through Dimension Ascension 200

Formations

Li Gan studies formations as an auxiliary discipline, eventually creating and advancing the Qianyuan Array Canon. 111 176

• Deciphered ancient-ruin arrays by identifying their base arrays and fixed pillars 134
• Obtained the complete Shi Tuo Ridge Ten Directions Array Solution from a demon formation master 186
• Used his formation knowledge to locate and recover the Spirit Wandering Soldier Armor Mother-Child Array components in Mangniu County City 138

Fox Puppet Avatar

Li Gan possesses a white fox puppet avatar linked to his primordial spirit. 173

• Acted as the Divine Sword Sect’s “ancestor” during the demon attack on the sect 199
• Advanced to the Supreme Saint level, reinforcing the sect’s defenses 226

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Chen Bell / Chenzhong — Li Gan’s evolving sacrificial tool and the source of the Chen Bell Domain 21 199
• Sword Eighteen — Sword refined completely through Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent 138 160
• Black Cloak — Taken from a defeated assailant; conceals his identity during covert actions 75 80
• Divine refined blade — Taken from the black-cloaked assailant Li Gan killed 75
• God-Slaying Treasure Bottle — A heavily restricted demon artifact recovered from Great Saint Baoping’s storage apparatus 186
• Immobilization Divine Pearl — A divine ability recorded among Li Gan’s later powers 221

Relationships

• Zhou Buping — Li Gan’s master, who recognized his extraordinary comprehension, taught him the Heartless Sword Art, and supported the establishment of Heartless Peak 17 18 161
• Elder Song — Early Bell Tower elder who provided Li Gan with supplies, cultivation advice, and Exotic Beast Jerky 4 6
• Chen Yong — Friend and fellow disciple whom Li Gan guided with pills and cultivation advice; Li Gan later paid respects after Chen Yong’s death 43 186
• Liu Ming — Initially Li Gan’s menial assistant at Chenzhong Terrace; later reunited with Li Gan after decades as a Pseudo Xiantian martial artist 55 187
• Li Mo — A traumatized girl Li Gan rescued, named, supported, and protected as her demon-mark mystery unfolded 53 80 152
• Pang Bai — Fellow Divine Sword Sect disciple and occasional partner in intelligence-gathering; their differing attitudes toward danger often contrast 75 132
• Feng Shaoyu — Divine Sword Sect Master who recognized Li Gan’s accomplishments and accepted his refusal to join the Dragon Guard Temple 118 161
• Great Saint Linglong — Dao Sect powerhouse who attempted to recruit Li Gan; later provided the jade slip containing the incomplete Nine Swords of Divine Firmament 186 192
• Hou Shuwen — Divine Sword Sect Heavenly Human who mistook Li Gan’s black-cloaked persona for the sect ancestor 138
• Elder Gu — Scholar who assisted Li Gan’s research into demon script and identified Li Mo’s mark as connected to the Herdsman Family 93 153

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise at Chenzhong Terrace

Li Gan begins as a rapidly advancing Bell Tower cultivator whose link to the Chen Bell compensates for his lack of resources. His conflict over the Treasure Map leads directly to Zhou Buping taking him as a Personal Disciple. 4 6 17

Development of the Heartless Path

As an Official Disciple, Li Gan perfects the Heartless Sword Art, comprehends Heartless Sword Intent, and acquires techniques such as Myriad Transformation Sword Qi, the Immaculate Sword Body, and Great River Sword Qi. 23 28 33 118

Hidden Protector of the Divine Sword Sect

Li Gan uses the false “ancestor” identity to eliminate demons, recover arrays, and covertly protect the sect. His actions encourage the sect to treat the supposed ancestor as a genuine hidden guardian. 138 154 199

Saint-Grade Cultivator

Li Gan advances through the Heavenly Human, Martial Saint, and Great Saint stages while preserving Heartless Peak and dealing with demon threats. He destroys Shi Tuo Demon City after reaching the Great Saint Realm. 161 162 180

Everlasting Realm and Longevity

After learning of the Everlasting Realm and experiencing the Yellow Sand World through Return to Void, Li Gan reaches the Longevity Realm. He remains wary of higher-dimensional dangers while training the next generation of the Heartless lineage. 220 221 225 228

Notable Quotes

“Sect Master, I am a person who enjoys peace and quiet and cannot handle too many restrictions.” 118

Trivia

• Li Gan was forty-one years old when Pang Bai brought him information about a potential ancient ruin. 131
• He had cultivated by ringing the bell for more than seventy-seven years by the time the Human Realm barrier closed. 176
• He has little interest in fame, elder positions, or recruitment by powerful organizations, consistently choosing independence and quiet cultivation instead. 112 118 186