Lin Ao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lin Ao (林傲)
Alias(es)	Howling (online identity); Lin Dali (cover identity) 64 383
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Lin Family; Ao Corporation; ally of the Dragon Gate; chairman associated with the Blade Dragon Association 62 173 186
Occupation/Role	Sole heir of the Jianghai Lin Family; businessman; martial artist; cultivator 3 137
Status	Alive; later returns to a peaceful family life after resolving the conflict with Fate 466 467
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sun God Art — entry level	31	Reached after 49 days of secluded cultivation; grants combat power comparable to a typical Great Grandmaster.
Grandmaster	42	Reveals that cultivating the Sun God Art and Moon God Art has made him a Grandmaster.
True Martial Realm (stated)	72	Narration calls him a “genuine True Martial Realm expert” while he plans Long Aotian’s training.
Great Grandmaster (stated)	169	Identifies himself as a Great Grandmaster while reflecting on Yan Dong hiding beneath his car.
True Martial Realm — breakthrough	227	Breaks through after his cultivation fuses with Xiao Jiu/Fate Two’s. He gains access to Heavenly Mandate’s space.
Xuanwu Realm	302	Border captain Qian Zhuang identifies him as a Xuanwu Realm martial artist after Lin Ao shatters soldiers’ armor.
Divine Martial	309	Absorbs concentrated Divine Martial energy within the Hong Kingdom imperial palace and reaches a new bottleneck.
Unnamed evolution	360	Evolves again after Heavenly Mandate strikes him, producing another substantial increase in strength.
Post-cocoon transformation	464	Breaks Fate’s cocoon, manifests a radically altered form, frees Heavenly Mandate, and forces Fate to flee.

Background / History

Lin Ao repeatedly died in prior timelines after following the role expected of a ruthless villain. In one life, he ordered Xiao Fan hunted down and was assassinated after Xiao Fan infiltrated the Lin Family Manor. In another, he avoided a disrupted wedding only to be poisoned and killed by Xiao Fan after defeating the Qin Family in a business war. 1

After regaining his memories, Lin Ao resolves to abandon villainy. He establishes three rules for himself: be a good person, avoid the protagonist group, and stay away from women. His first intended act is ending his engagement to Gu Wanqing, although his awkward attempts at ordinary communication instead begin changing their relationship. 2

Lin Ao’s new choices gradually break the repeated “Destiny Path” that had driven his deaths. He cultivates the Sun God Art in secret, forms alliances with Long Aotian and the Dragon Gate, kills Xiao Fan, and begins gathering the people who had been manipulated by Fate across earlier timelines. 31 54 58

In Japan, he establishes the Ao Corporation’s local influence, supports the transformation of the Blade Dragon Association, and confronts Fate’s avatars. His conflict with Fate becomes personal after he captures Fate Two, later renaming her Xiao Jiu and accepting her as his wife. 173 186 219 221

After traveling with Xiao Jiu and Liu Nian into another world, Lin Ao becomes involved in the affairs of the Hong Kingdom, Mist Kingdom, and Chu State. He collects Heavenly Mandate energy, reaches Divine Martial, and leads his family and allies against Chu Tian, Fate’s avatars, and the Doom Avatars. 302 309 345 435

Lin Ao ultimately breaks free from Fate’s cocoon, rescues Heavenly Mandate from the Misfortune chains, and pursues Fate until the conflict is resolved. He later returns to the Lin Family Manor and settles into life with his extended family. 464 466 467

Appearance

Lin Ao is consistently described as exceptionally handsome, with an athletic build, a tall and upright posture, and an imposing presence. Several status panels rate his appearance as SSS. 20 30 65

• Long arms and a visibly athletic physique beneath his formal Zhongshan suit. 30
• Mature, authoritative bearing after cultivating the Sun God Art. 31
• Often presents a calm, composed image despite inward panic or confusion in unfamiliar social situations. 32 39
• After escaping Fate’s cocoon, he develops long black hair, intricate runes across his body, a mark between his brows, and mismatched black-and-white eyes. 464

Personality

Lin Ao was formerly cold, severe, and ruthlessly profit-driven. His parents describe the old Lin Ao as someone who rarely smiled and regularly reduced employees to tears over work matters. 2 His own status panel characterizes him as a complicated person: tsundere, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, and especially unable to handle women crying. 20 65

Following his rebirth, he sincerely attempts to become better, though he initially has little understanding of normal social interaction. He is stiff in casual conversations, overthinks messages, and often reacts with internal panic when women become emotionally direct with him. 2 32 39

Lin Ao is also calculating and opportunistic. He provokes Xiao Fan, manipulates Long Aotian’s ambition to turn him against Xiao Fan, and repeatedly uses deception, pressure, or strategic alliances to gain advantages over stronger enemies. 48 49 170

His moral conduct remains inconsistent. He shows genuine compassion by healing enemies and restoring Spring Blossom and Autumn Moon’s bodies, yet can be cruel and controlling toward opponents such as Fate Two and Lin Feng. 219 391 420

Abilities & Skills

Sun God Art and Moon God Art

Lin Ao’s cultivation begins with the dangerous Sun God Art, which greatly enhances his physical strength and combat ability. He later uses the paired Moon God Art to guide Gu Wanqing and other women into cultivation. 31 80 84

• Reached the Sun God Art’s entry level through 49 days of intensive cultivation. 31
• Initially possessed strength comparable to a typical Great Grandmaster. 31
• Can transmit the Moon God Art’s primer and teach its mantra and acupoints. 80
• Gains further benefits when a Moon God Art cultivator advances alongside him. 83

Heavenly Mandate and Fate Energy

Lin Ao is Heavenly Mandate’s deliberately chosen “most special Heavenly Mandate Person.” He eventually fuses Heavenly Mandate energy with Fate energy, allowing him to absorb, manipulate, and counter Fate’s power. 208 229

• Absorbs Fate Red Threads and Fate energy directly into his body. 209 283
• Creates Fate Energy nets, blades, javelins, barriers, and dragon-shaped phantoms. 388 435 450 420
• Uses Fate Energy to track distinct auras across great distances. 352
• Can exert control over Xiao Jiu through her Soul Brand. 219
• Draws on Heavenly Mandate energy to assist others, including removing Yan Dong’s lingering Fate aura. 170
• Operates the targeted “Divine Punishment” campaign that eliminates selected figures across Little Japan. 275 277

Martial Combat

Lin Ao is an adaptable close-range fighter who combines overwhelming cultivation with practical battlefield observation.

• Uses lightning and weather manipulation after reaching True Martial. 283
• Fights with fists, kicks, condensed weapons, sword qi, and tentacle-like manifestations of power. 209 388 451
• Can teleport or open portals for rapid movement across cities, nations, and spatial rifts. 360 465
• Deliberately tests opponents’ abilities before committing full strength, as seen against Fate Five and the Holy Mark mutants. 354 382
• Severed his own arm to escape Fate’s grasp, then regenerated a replacement during the same confrontation. 450

Healing and Restoration

Lin Ao can use his power to repair severe physical damage.

• Fully heals Spring Blossom and Autumn Moon, including restoring their tongues. 391
• Heals Lin Yi, Fate Eight, and his three sons after their injuries. 405
• Infuses Heavenly Mandate power into Lin Yuichi’s child as a protective blessing. 300

Leadership and Strategy

Lin Ao combines his family’s wealth with long-term planning, alliances, and intimidation.

• Oversees extensive defenses at Lin Family Manor, including a twenty-meter wall and tungsten-steel inner wall. 41
• Expands Ao Corporation into Japan and proposes a social-networking platform intended to influence public opinion. 173 176
• Uses Long Aotian and the Blade Dragon Association as a military and political force. 176 186
• Assigns his children to lead campaigns against four kingdoms while coordinating the broader war effort. 346

Equipment / Items

• Lin Family Manor defenses — fortified walls and security systems built during the manor’s renovation. 41 43
• Tablet used for Divine Punishment — used to select key targets during the operation in Little Japan. 275
• Fate-energy extraction syringe — used to remove most of Fate Five’s power. 358
• Fate Avatar suppression card — a device supplied by Li Jing that can bind an avatar’s power for roughly one hour. 347
• Signal jammer — used as a precaution against Doom Avatar communication. 387

Relationships

• Lin Dong — father; a Great Grandmaster who disciplines Lin Ao but supports his growth and independence. 42 43
• Li Wanyu — mother; a Great Grandmaster who worries about the danger of Lin Ao’s cultivation and helps protect his family. 42 43
• Gu Wanqing — childhood acquaintance and fiancée who becomes one of Lin Ao’s central partners; Lin Ao teaches her the Moon God Art, and they later have a child together. 2 80 296
• Qin Yun — online friend “Fierce One”; Lin Ao is “Howling” in their online relationship, and their identities are revealed at Lotus Mountain. 25 64
• Liu Nian — former Yama Hall assassin whom Lin Ao protects; while undercover in Sicily, he assumes the role of her single father. 8 91
• Joanna — Lin Ao’s partner in Sicily and Liu Nian’s mother figure; Lin Ao eventually confesses his true Jianghai identity to her. 91 125
• Long Aotian — Dragon Gate special envoy, ally, frequent training partner, and self-proclaimed “Brother Lin” follower. 46 49 62
• Xiao Jiu — formerly Fate Two; initially subdued through a Soul Brand, later renamed by Lin Ao and declared his wife. 219 221
• Heavenly Mandate — the entity that deliberately chose Lin Ao; their relationship evolves from guarded cooperation into mutual trust and affection. 208 229 464
• Lin Feng — Lin Ao’s younger cousin through Lin Ze; initially an enemy manipulated by Fate, later a damaged ally in the war against Chu Tian. 10 283 436
• Sasaki Nozomi — disciple trained by Lin Ao in yoga, martial arts basics, and cultivation. 185 186
• Nakamura Yuichi — formally acknowledged as Lin Ao’s disciple after enduring cultivation training. 201

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Breaking the Destiny Path — remembers repeated deaths, abandons his villain role, and begins changing his relationships with Gu Wanqing and the women tied to earlier timelines. 1 2 56
• Xiao Fan Conflict — cultivates the Sun God Art, allies with Long Aotian, rescues Qin Yun, and personally ends Xiao Fan’s threat. 31 50 54 58
• Dragon Gate Alliance — manipulates Long Aotian’s ambitions, forms a conditional partnership with the Dragon Gate, and directs it against Yama Hall. 49 62
• Pengdong and Yama Hall — adopts a cover identity in Sicily, protects Liu Nian and Joanna, and confronts the organizations connected to Yama Hall. 91 123 133
• Japan Expansion — establishes the Ao Corporation’s presence in Japan, works with Yi Duzi Huaishui, and supports the Blade Dragon Association’s restructuring. 173 176 186
• Fate Avatar Campaign — captures Fate Two, identifies the avatars’ abilities, subdues Fate Five, and absorbs power from Fate-related entities. 219 358 368
• Hong Kingdom and Mist Kingdom — enters another world with Xiao Jiu and Liu Nian, gains Divine Martial power, and becomes involved in imperial conflicts. 302 309 326
• War Against Chu Tian — organizes his family’s forces against Chu State, supports Lin Feng’s revenge campaign, and confronts Chu Tian directly. 346 442 450
• Final Conflict with Fate — resists Fate’s attempt to merge with him, breaks out of her cocoon, frees Heavenly Mandate, and pursues Fate through a spatial rift. 456 464 465

Notable Quotes

“Clown.” 48

“Jianghai, Lin Family! Lin Ao!” 158

Trivia

• Lin Ao’s status panel repeatedly gives him an SSS appearance rating. 20 65
• He struggles with casual social situations despite his business success and public reputation. 3 32
• His online name, Howling, originated from his friendship with Qin Yun, who used the name So Fierce. 25 64
• Lin Ao’s maternal family is the Li Family of the capital, one of the families considered untouchable by the capital’s unspoken rules. 57