Xuan Zi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xuan Zi (玄子)
Alias(es)	Elder Xuan; Taotie Douluo
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; Sea God Pavilion; leader of the Shrek Inspectorate
Occupation/Role	Shrek elder, Inspectorate commander, and Sea God Pavilion Master
Status	Alive; Limit Douluo who later received a god-level inheritance from Tang San through the Golden Tree 400 456 498
First Appearance	Chapter 36

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Rank 98 Super Douluo	80, 95	A Taotie Martial Soul master capable of deploying his Martial Soul Avatar in battle.
Rank 99 Limit Douluo	400	Achieved after seclusion; two Soul Cores resonated within his dantian, while his Martial Soul evolved into a true Taotie.
Survival through Evil Eye-derived arm	433	Survived an apparently fatal strike from Huo Yuhao's Full-Body Susanoo by using his arm to produce a reality-altering effect similar to Izanagi.
Further advancement through Sea God inheritance	456	Received Tang San's god-level inheritance through the Golden Tree during a second period of seclusion, further advancing his cultivation and transforming his Taotie Martial Soul again. He proclaimed himself the strongest person on the Douluo Continent.
Mountain Dragon Bloodline-enhanced Taotie	498	Identified the Mountain Dragon Bloodline as part of Tang San's inheritance. His transformed Taotie Avatar blocked the wind pressure from a Great Susanoo attack; his Ninth Soul Skill, Devour Heaven and Earth, drew in surrounding energy to increase his speed and strength.

Appearance

Xuan Zi is an elderly man whose ordinarily slovenly appearance contrasts sharply with the oppressive presence he displays when serious. He is frequently seen eating meat or drinking from a wine gourd. 36 59

• Tattered clothing and messy hair. 36
• Often wipes grease from his hands directly onto his clothes. 59
• Murky eyes that sharpen noticeably when assessing a target. 36 59
• Lost his right arm after Kakuzu detonated attacks from inside his Taotie Avatar. 217
• Later wore thick bandages over his left arm and left eye upon emerging from seclusion. 400
• His Taotie Avatar after receiving Tang San's inheritance is covered in earthy yellow scales. 498

Personality

Xuan Zi presents himself as careless, uncouth, and perpetually preoccupied with food and drink, but he is observant and calculating beneath that façade. His first reaction to Huo Yuhao's ruthlessness was not alarm, but excitement at the prospect of molding him into Shrek's hidden “Root.” 36

His loyalty to Shrek is uncompromising and often ruthless. He advocates using “old methods” to secure Huo Yuhao's absolute loyalty, considers eliminating him if he cannot be controlled, and views Shrek's interests as justification for covert manipulation. 59 100 263

Xuan Zi is also proud, possessive, and prone to underestimating unconventional opponents. His defeat by Akatsuki left him fixated on revenge and on obtaining the power needed to break through to the Limit Douluo realm. 217 221 234

He treats Shrek's reputation and dominance as interests worth preserving at any cost. During the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, he contemplated suppressing rival geniuses who might threaten Shrek's position, resented Huo Yuhao's growing personal prestige, and attempted to reinforce the students' absolute confidence in Shrek's superiority. 183 184 185 241

After becoming Sea God Pavilion Master, his volatility became more pronounced. He responded to Cai Mei'er's exposure of Shrek's clandestine dealings with fury, condemning her capture and betrayal as a violation of an absolute order to die rather than surrender. 456 457

Abilities & Skills

Taotie Martial Soul

Xuan Zi possesses the Taotie Martial Soul, which ultimately evolved into a true Taotie after his breakthrough. 95 400

• Can activate his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, transforming into a Taotie. 95
• Swallowed Kakuzu and Red Dragon Douluo during the battle outside Star Luo City. 217
• His devouring tactic was exploited when Kakuzu unleashed four conflicting elemental attacks from inside his body. 217
• His evolved Martial Soul and two resonating Soul Cores supported his ascent to Limit Douluo. 400
• The Taotie Martial Soul underwent another transformation after he absorbed Tang San's inheritance through the Golden Tree. 456
• The later Taotie Avatar has earthy yellow scales and was able to shield people beneath it from the wind pressure of a Great Susanoo attack. Xuan Zi attributed its improvement to the Mountain Dragon Bloodline bestowed through Tang San's inheritance. 498
• Heaven Mending is his self-created Taotie Soul Skill. He fires an earthy yellow sphere from the Avatar's mouth; against a Great Susanoo sword, it weakened but did not stop the descending blade. 498
• Ninth Soul Skill: Devour Heaven and Earth draws surrounding heaven and earth energy into his body, sharply increasing his speed and strength. He used it to contest the Great Susanoo sword after Heaven Mending failed to stop it. 498

Soul Power Inspection

Xuan Zi can use subtle Soul Power to examine another person's body.

• Probed Huo Yuhao's body after the Ice Jade Scorpion summoning incident. 80
• Confirmed that Huo Yuhao had a purely human body rather than being a soul beast in human form. 80

Limit Douluo Cultivation

After seclusion, Xuan Zi became a Limit Douluo and gained far greater confidence in confronting Akatsuki. 400

• His breakthrough followed the complete fusion of his replacement arm and the transformation of his Martial Soul. 400
• Ordered Yan Shaozhe to report Akatsuki's and Huo Yuhao's movements after returning from seclusion. 400
• Vowed to destroy Akatsuki and eliminate a Holy Spirit Cult branch in the Sun Moon Empire. 400
• His two Soul Cores coexist in resonant equilibrium within his dantian. 400

Sea God's Inheritance

During a later seclusion within the Golden Tree, Xuan Zi connected with a strand of Tang San's divine consciousness and was granted a god-level inheritance after Tang San judged him completely loyal to Shrek. 456

• The inheritance further improved his cultivation and caused an additional evolution of his Taotie Martial Soul. 456
• Following his return, he declared himself the strongest person on the Douluo Continent and expressed confidence that killing Uchiha Madara would be effortless. 456
• His increased power reinforced Shrek's remaining elders' reliance on him during the academy's crisis. 456 457
• Xuan Zi later identified the Mountain Dragon Bloodline as part of the inheritance and credited it with strengthening his Taotie Martial Soul. 498

Evil Eye Arm

During a covert clash with Huo Yuhao, Xuan Zi survived an apparently fatal Susanoo attack by using a power of his Evil Eye-derived arm. Huo Yuhao judged its effect to be similar to Izanagi: an alteration of reality that allowed Xuan Zi to escape his apparent death. 433

Equipment / Items

• Wine gourd — frequently carried and used by Xuan Zi. 201 289
• Holy Spirit Cult prosthetic arm — custom-made by Ming Lei Douluo after Xuan Zi lost his right arm; fused Soul Master flesh, soul beasts from the Evil Demon Forest, and a root said to have fallen from the Blue Silver Emperor. 234
  • The arm initially acted independently and required Xuan Zi's Soul Power to suppress. 234
  • It was unstable enough that intense combat risked backlash. 234
  • Its attachment was arranged after Xuan Zi provided the Holy Spirit Cult with important intelligence. 234
  • The replacement arm had completely fused with Xuan Zi by the time he became a Limit Douluo. 400
  • An Evil Eye-derived power in his arm later enabled him to survive an apparently fatal attack by altering reality. 433

Background / History

Xuan Zi first took an interest in Huo Yuhao after witnessing the youth defeat Dai Huabin. Rather than seeing ordinary arrogance, he perceived a cold ruthlessness and decided Huo Yuhao would make an ideal successor for Shrek's hidden side. 36

He subsequently proposed that Huo Yuhao join the Shrek Inspectorate as his personal disciple. Xuan Zi intended to investigate Huo Yuhao's background and use Shrek's “old methods” to ensure his absolute loyalty, but Mu En rebuked him for excessive suspicion. 59

As Inspectorate leader, Xuan Zi offered to personally lead Huo Yuhao's third soul-ring hunt. Zhang Lexuan objected, recalling an earlier Star Dou Great Forest expedition led by Xuan Zi in which only four of twelve Inner Court elites survived. 75 81

During the operation against the Hand of the Grim Reaper bandits, Xuan Zi arrived after the students had already been caught in corpse explosions. His Taotie Avatar caused the unstable cave to collapse further, worsening the injuries of the trapped students. 95 Afterward, he publicly accepted blame for the mission's casualties, while privately planning to one day brand Huo Yuhao's soul through the Golden Tree. 99 100

Story Role / Major Arcs

Interest in Huo Yuhao

Xuan Zi repeatedly assessed Huo Yuhao as a potential instrument of Shrek's hidden will. He approved of Huo Yuhao's apparent self-sacrifice during the Inspectorate mission and praised him as a worthy successor to the Sea God's Will. 98

His attitude remained conditional: after learning of Huo Yuhao's ability to rejuvenate Wang Xian'er, Xuan Zi concluded that Huo Yuhao's secrets were dangerous enough that he should be destroyed if Shrek could not fully control him. 263

Xuan Zi became increasingly alarmed as Huo Yuhao's individual fame eclipsed Shrek's institutional prestige. He suspected outside forces might poach Huo Yuhao, attempted to keep Zhang Lexuan close to him, and regarded Huo Yuhao's lack of public displays of loyalty as a potential warning sign. 184 241 279 289

Conflict with Akatsuki

At the Starlight Auction, Xuan Zi used rank 98 pressure to threaten Xiao Hongchen during a bidding dispute, only stopping when Jing Hongchen intervened. 201

Outside Star Luo City, Xuan Zi attacked Kakuzu and attempted to devour him. Kakuzu retaliated from within the Taotie Avatar, destroying Xuan Zi's right arm and leaving him severely wounded. 217 Bound afterward by Bibi Dong's magic array, he was only spared after Mu En's spiritual projection intervened and Huo Yuhao accepted a Spirit Bone as the price for letting him live. 219

After the battle, Xuan Zi concealed the true extent of his defeat from Shrek's students and began planning to seize the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's resources. 221

When Huo Yuhao publicly defected and Akatsuki descended upon Shrek, Xuan Zi attacked him but failed to breach his defenses. He demanded Mu En's power to fight Akatsuki, while his incomplete Martial Soul evolution prevented him from fully intervening against the subsequent attack on Sea God Pavilion. 342 343

Later, Xuan Zi secretly joined a Sun Moon Empire rebel army alongside Elder Song. After Huo Yuhao killed Elder Song and destroyed the army, Xuan Zi attacked him while concealing his identity and holding back his full power. Huo Yuhao overwhelmed him with Full-Body Susanoo and struck him with Susanoo-Blade Flame Dance, but Xuan Zi escaped apparent death through the Evil Eye-derived power of his arm. 433

Dealings with the Holy Spirit Cult

To restore his lost arm, Xuan Zi entered a transaction with the Holy Spirit Cult. Zhongli Wu later reminded him that the prosthetic-arm deal had been completed and approached him to negotiate another arrangement concerning Huo Yuhao. 234 290

Xuan Zi also showed private alarm when reports suggested Bibi Dong had returned, recognizing similarities between the reported figure and the being summoned during his battle against Akatsuki. 247

When Zhongli Wu demanded Huo Yuhao, Xuan Zi refused to surrender the youth but offered Ma Xiaotao as a substitute bargaining chip. Zhongli Wu accepted the apparent arrangement while privately intending to seize both Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao. 290

Sea God Pavilion Succession and Breakthrough

Before his death, Mu En named Xuan Zi as the future leader of the Sea God Pavilion, despite acknowledging that Xuan Zi's temperament was poorly suited to the position. 355

Following Mu En's death and the destruction of the Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Zi swore vengeance against Akatsuki and Di Qiulin. 368 He later emerged from seclusion as a Limit Douluo, with a fully evolved Taotie Martial Soul and a renewed campaign against Akatsuki. 400

Second Seclusion and Sea God's Inheritance

Following further losses to Akatsuki, including the capture of Yan Shaozhe and Beibei and Cai Mei'er's subsequent public exposure of Shrek's hidden dealings, Xuan Zi entered deep seclusion within the Golden Tree again. 456

During this seclusion, he connected with Tang San's divine consciousness and received a god-level inheritance. After fully absorbing it, he returned as the Sea God Pavilion Master with enhanced cultivation and a further-transformed Taotie Martial Soul. 456

Upon learning the full extent of Shrek's losses, Xuan Zi reacted with rage and resolved to convene the Three Emperors Conference, seeking to unite the Douluo Three Kingdoms against Akatsuki. He sent Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo as envoys. 457

Clash at the Conference

When a Great Susanoo attack threatened the conference attendees, Xuan Zi transformed into his strengthened Taotie Avatar and shielded them from its wind pressure. He then used Heaven Mending against a descending greatsword, but the attack only weakened its momentum. Burning Soul Power, he followed with his Ninth Soul Skill, Devour Heaven and Earth, drawing in energy to contest the blade. Those sheltering behind him hailed him as Shrek's stabilizing pillar. 498

Relationships

• Huo Yuhao — Initially viewed as an ideal personal disciple and prospective “Root” for Shrek; later regarded as a dangerous asset who must either be controlled or destroyed. Huo Yuhao's defection and leadership within Akatsuki made him Xuan Zi's foremost enemy. Huo Yuhao later defeated him during the Sun Moon Empire rebellion, though Xuan Zi escaped. 36 59 263 342 400 433
• Mu En — Fellow Sea God Pavilion elder who rejected Xuan Zi's plan to secure Huo Yuhao's loyalty through coercive methods; later designated Xuan Zi as his successor. Mu En's death left Xuan Zi to lead Shrek against Akatsuki. 59 355 368
• Zhang Lexuan — A survivor of Xuan Zi's disastrous Star Dou Great Forest expedition; she openly considered his leadership unsafe. Xuan Zi later relied on her proximity to Huo Yuhao as a means of monitoring his loyalty, before she ultimately aligned herself with Akatsuki. 81 92 289 370
• Zhongli Wu — Holy Spirit Cult Master and transactional associate; their dealings included Xuan Zi's prosthetic arm and Zhongli Wu's attempt to obtain Huo Yuhao. 290
• Kakuzu — Akatsuki opponent who exploited Xuan Zi's devouring ability, caused the loss of his right arm, and survived Xuan Zi's attempted kill. 217
• Jing Hongchen — Mingde Hall master whose intervention stopped Xuan Zi's auction-house pressure campaign against Xiao Hongchen. Their hostility later continued over the Sword of Judgment. 201 279
• Yan Shaozhe — Shrek elder ordered by Xuan Zi to mobilize forces and report Akatsuki's movements after Xuan Zi became a Limit Douluo. Yan Shaozhe's later capture by Akatsuki became a major cause of Xuan Zi's renewed fury. 400 456 457
• Ma Xiaotao — A Shrek student whom Xuan Zi was willing to offer Zhongli Wu in place of Huo Yuhao during negotiations with the Holy Spirit Cult. 290
• Cai Mei'er — Sea God Pavilion elder dispatched as reinforcement during the conflict surrounding Yan Shaozhe and Beibei. Her capture and later exposure of Shrek's secrets enraged Xuan Zi. 456 457
• Beibei — Shrek disciple whose capture by Akatsuki, alongside Yan Shaozhe, contributed to Xuan Zi's decision to seek a continent-wide alliance against Akatsuki. 456 457
• Tang San — The Sea God whose divine consciousness within the Golden Tree bestowed Xuan Zi with a god-level inheritance after judging his loyalty to Shrek. The inheritance included the Mountain Dragon Bloodline, which Xuan Zi credited with strengthening his Taotie. 456 498
• Elder Song — Fellow Shrek powerhouse who covertly joined Xuan Zi among the Sun Moon Empire rebels. Huo Yuhao killed her before defeating Xuan Zi in the ensuing battle. 433
• Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo — Sea God Pavilion members whom Xuan Zi dispatched as envoys to seek the three empires' cooperation against Akatsuki. 457

Notable Quotes

“I will train him to be... the ‘Root’ buried beneath the Golden Tree.” 36

“Such a peerless genius... if he cannot be completely controlled by Shrek... Then he must be destroyed while there is still time!” 263

“This old man has successfully stepped into the realm of Limit Douluo!” 400

“Now, this old man is the strongest on the Douluo Continent!” 456

“Die rather than surrender—that was an absolute order issued by me, the Sea God Pavilion Master!” 457

Trivia

• Xuan Zi's right arm is destroyed in Chapter 217, and his prosthetic is repeatedly described as a right arm afterward; upon his return from seclusion, however, the replacement arm is described as his left arm. 217 234 400
• His outwardly sloppy habits repeatedly obscure his role as one of Shrek's most politically calculating elders. 36 59
• Although Mu En regarded Xuan Zi's temperament as unsuited to lead the Sea God Pavilion, he nevertheless selected him as successor because no other remaining elder could stabilize Shrek during its crisis. 355