Xu Tianran

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xu Tianran (徐天然) 72
Alias(es)	Crown Prince; Regent Prince; Emperor (as shown in the Sky Screen's future) 73 80 86
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun Moon Empire; allied with the Holy Spirit Cult 85 86
Occupation/Role	Heir to the Sun Moon Empire; later its de facto ruler as Regent Prince 78 86
Ranking	Sixth Place on the Top Ten Hypocrites List 72
Status	Alive 87
First Appearance	Chapter 13 13

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Eight-ring Spirit Douluo	83	Broke through the Spirit Sage bottleneck after surviving the assassination attempt; recognized as the youngest Spirit Douluo in Sun Moon Empire history. 83
Titled Douluo	86	Reached the Titled Douluo realm while consolidating his rule with the Holy Spirit Cult's assistance. 86

History

Early life and ideals

Xu Tianran was born to the Sun Moon Empress and was made Crown Prince while young after her death. His Crown Prince Grand Tutor raised him on benevolent governance and concern for ordinary people, while also teaching him that his father had seized the throne through fratricide. 73

Determined not to repeat his father's bloody path, Xu Tianran treated his imperial brothers generously, shared cultivation resources, and even accepted punishment in place of a brother who broke the Emperor's prized vase. 73

The Grand Tutor's lessons on the Sun Moon Empire's conflict with the Douluo Continent, the fall of the Spirit Hall Empire, and the suppression of commoners reshaped Xu Tianran's political ambitions. He believed that popular support and sincere rule could end war and create a fairer society. 74 76 78

After formally becoming heir at his coming-of-age ceremony, Xu Tianran promoted talented commoners, opened avenues for advancement, punished corrupt officials, and personally distributed grain. These policies earned popular support while alienating the nobility. 78 79

Assassination and transformation

During an inspection, Xu Tianran was ambushed. Juzi took the blow intended for him, while Xu Tianran was left with crippled legs; he later learned that he was impotent. Public rumors and the abandonment of many former supporters drove him into despair. 79 80

After three days of isolation, he abandoned his faith in benevolence as a method of rule. He concluded that people only followed whoever offered them benefits and decided that power, deception, and fear were necessary to achieve continental unification. 81

Xu Tianran offered the nobles expanded privileges to secure their support, then used his loyal guards to raid the Third Prince Xu Mo's residence. Xu Mo and his entire household were killed, and Xu Tianran publicly declared his brother the mastermind behind the assassination. 82 83

Return to power

Xu Tianran deliberately provoked conflict between the imperial authority and the noble factions, presenting himself as a cornered and reckless pawn. His breakthrough to Spirit Douluo forced the Emperor to reward him with resources, additional guards, and authority to handle the Third Prince's faction. 83

He subsequently cultivated support among the nobles while encouraging them to underestimate him. He sought the backing of Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion commander Xu Tianyuan and requested a private, all-female Soul Engineer Legion under Juzi's command. 84

Alliance with the Holy Spirit Cult

Xu Tianran met Holy Spirit Cult leader Zhongli Wu alone and withstood his evil spiritual-power test through the Purple Radiant Heaven-Slaying Dragon. He offered the cult recognition as the Empire's protector sect and eventual state religion in exchange for help securing the throne. 85

He further tempted Zhongli Wu with the prospect of continental war, framing the deaths of hundreds of thousands or millions of soldiers as a source of souls, resentment, and death energy for the cult. 85

With the Holy Spirit Cult acting as his hidden blade, Xu Tianran conducted a covert purge of hostile officials and nobles, filling their positions with his own people. Juzi's Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion grew alongside the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, returning military power to his hands. 86

The ailing Emperor ultimately appointed him Regent Prince, granting him control over the Sun Moon Empire's political and military affairs. 86

Appearance

Xu Tianran is a pale, handsome man with refined features, deep eyes, and an aristocratic bearing. His crippled legs confine him to a wheelchair, but the disability does not diminish the pressure or authority he projects. 72 85

• Often wears simple, elegant white robes. 72
• Retains an upright, imposing posture while seated. 86
• His expression is typically calm and controlled, even under threat. 80 85
• Manifests a vast purple dragon phantom when using his martial soul. 85

Personality

Xu Tianran was initially sincere, compassionate, and idealistic. He wanted to earn the people's loyalty through benevolent rule and believed that a ruler could end inherited hatred without repeating the violence of prior generations. 73 78

The assassination attempt shattered this outlook. He became convinced that public loyalty was fickle and that benevolence could only be written by victors. His later goal remained a unified and stable continent, but he accepted cruelty, manipulation, assassination, and alliance with Evil Soul Masters as the price of attaining it. 81 85

He is highly calculating and willing to make himself appear arrogant, dependent, or unstable when it encourages enemies to lower their guard. He values useful people and institutions as pieces in a larger political game, including Dai Hao and the Holy Spirit Cult. 46 84 85

Abilities & Skills

Purple Radiant Heaven-Slaying Dragon

Xu Tianran possesses the Purple Radiant Heaven-Slaying Dragon martial soul, a dragon-type power with overwhelming spiritual pressure. 85

• Manifested as an enormous purple dragon phantom with violet-gold vertical pupils. 85
• Instantly dispersed Zhongli Wu's evil spiritual-power invasion and the accompanying resentful-soul illusions. 85
• Its tyrannical presence caused Zhongli Wu to reassess Xu Tianran as far more dangerous than his physical condition suggested. 85

Political Strategy

Xu Tianran excels at turning opponents' assumptions into advantages.

• Forced the nobles and Emperor into conflict by publicly executing Xu Mo, making himself appear isolated and desperate. 83
• Pretended to be an arrogant puppet of the nobility while preparing a hidden purge. 84
• Used offices vacated by dead opponents to install loyal followers. 86
• Exploited Zhongli Wu's greed for souls and political legitimacy to secure the Holy Spirit Cult's cooperation. 85

Soul Engineering and Military Command

Xu Tianran builds independent military power through Soul Engineer Legions.

• Requested and established a private female Soul Engineer Legion commanded by Juzi. 84
• Invested heavily in the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, which became one of the Empire's principal weapons alongside the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion. 86

Equipment / Items

• Wheelchair — Used due to his crippled legs; he continues to command, negotiate, and direct purges from it. 72 85 86

Relationships

• Juzi — His loyal subordinate, strategist, and later Regent Princess. Xu Tianran rescued her in his youth; she later took an assassination blow meant for him and commanded the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion. 78 79 86
• Crown Prince Grand Tutor — His teacher and later political ally. The Grand Tutor shaped Xu Tianran's early ideals, then pledged to guide him after his transformation. 73 81 82
• Sun Moon Emperor — His father, whose fratricidal rise to power shaped Xu Tianran's fear of royal succession struggles. Their relationship became a contest of political maneuvering. 73 83 87
• Xu Mo / Third Prince — His younger brother and the alleged mastermind behind the assassination attempt. Xu Tianran led the raid that killed him and his household. 82 83
• Zhongli Wu — Holy Spirit Cult leader and ally of convenience. Xu Tianran offers him status, resources, and war-born souls in return for political and military support. 85 86
• Xu Tianyuan — Commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, whom Xu Tianran successfully sought as an ally. 84
• Dai Hao — A Sun Moon collaborator whom Xu Tianran regards as a useful but disposable pawn. 46
• Ji Xuan — A talented figure Xu Tianran attempts to recruit through Juzi, but Ji Xuan keeps his distance from the Crown Prince's faction. 56 72

Sky Screen Exposure

The Sky Screen names Xu Tianran sixth among the Top Ten Hypocrites, exposing his ambition to rule the continent regardless of public condemnation. Rather than deny the charge, he declares that strategy, cunning, and cruelty are necessary tools for a king. 72

Later revelations expose his physical disability, impotence, alliance with the Holy Spirit Cult, political purges, and plans surrounding the old Emperor's death. In response, Xu Tianran orders the imperial palace and Ming Capital sealed and begins his plans ahead of schedule. 80 85 87

Notable Quotes

“Either become the king of this continent. Or become a cold corpse.”
— Xu Tianran 72 73

“Benevolence? Benevolence is something left for the victors to write into the history books!”
— Xu Tianran 81

“The Holy Spirit Cult... in my eyes... They were the most useful blade.”
— Xu Tianran 85