Xiao Ding

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Xiao Ding is Xiao Yan’s eldest brother and Xiao Li’s older brother. He and Xiao Li founded the Desert Iron Mercenary Group in Stone Desert City, where they reunite with Xiao Yan after he rescues members of their group. When Xiao Yan reveals himself as a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Xiao Ding is stunned by the value of the Myriad Beast Blood Pill but quickly understands its significance for himself and Xiao Li. 33 34

The brothers originally left for Stone Desert City while they were still Dou Zhes. Their purpose in establishing themselves there was to provide Xiao Yan with a place to live peacefully if his lost cultivation talent never returned. Both are deeply moved when they learn that he has recovered his talent. 33 34

After consuming the pill, Xiao Ding gains a physique comparable to a Tier 4 Magical Beast. Xiao Yan later provides both brothers with low-level Earth Rank cultivation methods and suitable Earth Rank Dou Skills, giving them the means to develop their new physical strength. The brothers subsequently expand the mercenary group’s influence and accept the surrender of the Storm Mercenary Group. 37 69

When Xiao Yan proposes relocating the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s trusted members to the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Ding agrees despite the uncertainty. He becomes his brother’s most dependable civilian administrator, while Xiao Li focuses on martial affairs. 131 217

Following Han Feng’s fall, Xiao Ding helps Hai Bodong take over Feng City. The city is renamed Yan City, and Xiao Ding becomes the Tian Shu Alliance’s chief organizer as it develops its forces and establishes the Vientiane Auction House. 168 169

Personality

Xiao Ding is steady, broad-minded, and markedly more cautious than Xiao Li. Even after his abrupt rise to One-Star Dou Wang, his immediate concern is identifying the cause, scope, and possible consequences of the phenomenon rather than celebrating it. 34 217

He is pragmatic in both diplomacy and administration. When Shi Jing threatens Tian Shu Alliance guests in Yan City, Xiao Ding stays composed and invokes local rules rather than being intimidated. During the alchemist exchange conference, he calmly explains why Liu Chang’s outside connections offer no protection before having him restrained. 195 262

Despite his competence, Xiao Ding is aware of the burden placed on him by the alliance’s expansion. He worries about Xiao Yan’s safety and openly admits that managing the alliance’s increasing affairs has become exhausting. 221 238

He exercises restraint even when given broad authority. When outside factions seek alliance membership, he investigates their reputations and allows selected groups to work for the alliance without promising formal admission, reserving the final decision for Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan particularly appreciates his refusal to act rashly. 344

His relationship with Xiao Yan also includes frank humor. When Xiao Yan praises him by saying that capable people shoulder more work, an exhausted Xiao Ding retorts that it is the “suckers” who shoulder more work. 350

Abilities & Skills

Alliance Administration

Xiao Ding oversees the Tian Shu Alliance’s civilian affairs, infrastructure, intelligence, subordinate factions, and auction operations.

• Managed Yan City’s transition from Han Feng’s former Feng City, assessed its existing infrastructure and remaining factions, and consulted Xiao Yan on whether to renovate or rebuild. 169
• Organizes the Vientiane Auction House and the alliance’s major alchemist exchange conference. 169 261
• Handles the alliance’s growing volume of reports and negotiations, eventually requiring Yao Ye as an assistant. 238 241
• Uses his knowledge of regional politics to help Xiao Yan prioritize operations, including the attack on Demon Flame Valley. 204
• Manages the alliance’s expansion into every empire on the Northwest Continent, where branches and Vientiane Auction Houses have been established. His decisions cover whether to subdue or destroy resisting forces, the size and staffing of branches, defensive assignments, rewards, and the allocation of Heavenly Flames. 330
• Receives authority from Xiao Yan to direct the alliance’s high-ranking members and oversee its development while Xiao Yan concentrates on cultivation. 328
• Gathers intelligence on Black-Corner Region factions and their invitations, warns Xiao Yan that Han Feng may assemble powerful allies, and is tasked with arranging their meeting in Black-Seal City. 149
• Reports alliance income and gathered resources, and provides Xiao Yan with a map marking the possible location of the Yin-Yang Dual Flame. 197
• Reports expansion across the Southwestern, Pill, Eastern, and Western Regions. With Music Valley and Burning Flame Valley’s support, the alliance establishes a presence and Vientiane Auction House in every Southwestern Region city. 344
• Proposes delegating Vientiane Auction House affairs to Ya Fei to relieve the administrative burden. Xiao Yan approves, and the brothers schedule the continent-wide auction for a month later after preparations are completed. 350
• Arranges the bull-headed and ape magical beasts’ journey to the Nine Netherworld Python Clan, then accepts responsibility for collecting a lake of Spirit-Severing Water secured by Xiao Yan. 359
• Screens prospective member factions and arranges precautions against possible retaliation. After rejecting the widely detested Cloud Rain Sect, he instructs Yao Ye to have people monitor it. 376
• Continues briefing Xiao Yan on the alliance’s development as its reputation grows through Xiao Yan and Yao Lao’s standing as Tier 9 Precious Pill Grandmasters. He is also informed in detail about the small-world medicinal garden Xiao Yan creates near Tian Shu City. 379 383 386

Enhanced Physique

The Myriad Beast Blood Pill grants Xiao Ding a Tier 4 Magical Beast-equivalent body.

• Initially causes uncontrolled physical strength; he and Xiao Li accidentally demolish a house while adjusting to their new bodies. 37
• Allows the brothers to contend with stronger opponents after receiving Earth Rank methods and Dou Skills from Xiao Yan. 37
• Alongside Xiao Li, uses his enhanced strength to expand the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s influence; the brothers are reported to have killed a Fifth-Rank Magical Beast together. 69 130
• His physique remains at the Tier 4 Magical Beast level before the first bloodline-driven cultivation surge, as his administrative duties leave his personal advancement relatively slow. 217

Dou God Bloodline Traits

Xiao Yan’s eighth-rank physique breakthrough appears to awaken limited Dou God Bloodline traits in Xiao Ding.

• Causes a sudden breakthrough from Da Dou Shi to One-Star Dou Wang. 217
• Improves his mental agility and makes Dou Technique cultivation feel easier. 218
• The effect appears limited to Xiao Yan’s close relatives, making its secrecy a priority. 218 223
• Discreetly investigates Xiao Clan students at Jia Nan Academy and finds no comparable increase in their cultivation or talent, helping distinguish close blood relationship from proximity as the likely basis of the effect. 220 223
• Experiences another series of breakthroughs when Xiao Yan’s physique reaches Dou Saint. He conceals the cause from Yao Ye by attributing it to a secret technique that had accumulated Dou Qi; this explanation is a cover for the bloodline phenomenon rather than a confirmed ability. 376 377
• Instructs Xiao Li to investigate whether clan members within the alliance have also improved, then discusses the renewed cultivation surge with Xiao Yan after he leaves seclusion. 376 377

Heavenly Demon Puppet Command

Xiao Ding is entrusted with a Dou Venerate-level Heavenly Demon Puppet to compensate for the dangers of managing the rapidly expanding alliance.

• Uses the puppet to suppress and capture the Seventh-Rank Alchemist Liu Chang at the exchange conference. He intends to hand Liu Chang over to Xiao Yan rather than kill him, because Liu Chang’s body and soul may be useful for puppet refinement. 262
• The puppet serves as both protection and a public deterrent against those who would challenge Tian Shu Alliance authority. 260 262

Equipment

• Heavenly Goose Nine-Row Wings — A speed-enhancing flying Dou Skill refined from the bone wing of a Peak Seventh-Rank Heavenly Demon Phoenix; intended to improve Xiao Ding’s mobility while he travels for alliance business. 221 222
• Dou Venerate-level Heavenly Demon Puppet — A loyal protector provided by Xiao Yan and used by Xiao Ding to enforce Tian Shu Alliance rules. 260 262
• Earth Rank cultivation method and Dou Skill — Selected for him by Xiao Yan after the Myriad Beast Blood Pill enhancement. 37
• Heavenly Flame Child Flame — Given to him by Xiao Yan to open the Heavenly Flame barrier sealing the Spirit-Severing Water lake, allowing him to organize collection of its water. 359

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Younger brother and Tian Shu Alliance leader. Xiao Ding manages the alliance in Xiao Yan’s stead, advises him on major decisions, and remains deeply concerned for his safety. Xiao Yan later entrusts him with authority over the alliance’s development. 169 204 221 328
• Xiao Li — Younger brother and martial counterpart. The two received Myriad Beast Blood Pills together and experienced related bloodline-driven cultivation surges. Xiao Ding again relies on Xiao Li to investigate the extent of the bloodline effect after Xiao Yan’s Dou Saint physique breakthrough. 34 37 217 376 377
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Ding reunites with him alongside his brothers before leaving the Jia Ma Empire for the Black-Corner Region. 140
• Hai Bodong — Fellow Tian Shu Alliance elder. Hai Bodong serves as a military pillar while Xiao Ding handles administration and strategy. Xiao Ding later complains that Hai Bodong has little aptitude for management when discussing the need to delegate auction-house affairs. 169 209 350
• Yao Ye — Assistant assigned to lessen Xiao Ding’s administrative burden; her experience managing the Jia Ma Imperial Family’s army makes her a suitable aide. She continues working beside him as the alliance expands and shows admiration and apparent romantic interest in him. When she anxiously addresses him as “Big Brother Xiao Ding” after his renewed cultivation surge, she tries to apologize and return to his formal title, but he explicitly asks her to keep using the more intimate address. She subsequently calls him “Brother Xiao Ding.” 238 241 330 344 376 377
• Ya Fei — Trusted businesswoman whom Xiao Ding selects to take over Vientiane Auction House affairs, with Xiao Yan’s approval, to reduce his workload. 350
• Xiao Yi Xian — Xiao Yan’s lover and a trusted ally of the brothers. Xiao Ding recognizes both her devotion to Xiao Yan and her significance to the alliance. 222
• Venerable Wind (Feng Xian) — Visits Xiao Ding’s office while seeking Xiao Yan. Xiao Ding receives him courteously and directs him to the Pill Hall. 277

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Myriad Beast Blood Pill — Receives one of Xiao Yan’s self-developed pills, gains a Tier 4 Magical Beast-equivalent physique, and begins receiving higher-grade cultivation resources from his younger brother. 34 37
• Black-Corner Region relocation — Agrees to leave the Desert Iron Mercenary Group’s established life behind to help Xiao Yan build a reliable power base in the Black-Corner Region. 131 139
• Founding of the Tian Shu Alliance — Helps secure Feng City, oversees its conversion into Yan City, and develops the Vientiane Auction House as a source of influence and resources. 168 169
• Dou God Bloodline awakening — Breaks through to One-Star Dou Wang and investigates whether Xiao Yan’s transformation has affected the wider Xiao Clan. 217 218
• Alliance expansion — Receives flying wings and a Dou Venerate-level puppet to survive the increasing dangers of overseeing Tian Shu Alliance operations. 222 260
• Alchemy exchange conference — Publicly enforces the alliance’s rules by capturing Liu Chang, demonstrating that even the alliance’s administrator possesses the means to suppress powerful troublemakers. 262
• Northwest Continent consolidation — Helps administer the alliance as its branches and Vientiane Auction Houses spread to every empire on the Northwest Continent. Xiao Yan places him in charge of its continuing development, and Xiao Ding later briefs him on territorial affairs, puppet materials, rare resources, and Heavenly Flame allocation. 328 330
• Xiao Yan’s return — Remains at work in his office with Yao Ye when Xiao Yan returns from an extended journey. The brothers discuss Xiao Yan’s progress and how he intends to use the remaining time before his agreement with the Ancient Clan. Xiao Ding also reports the alliance’s Central Plains expansion and agrees with Xiao Yan to hold a continent-wide auction after his planned seclusion. 344
• Continent-wide auction preparations — Faces a surge of diplomatic and administrative work after Yao Lao refines a Tier 9 Precious Pill and reveals Two-Star Dou Saint strength. With both himself and Yao Ye exhausted, Xiao Ding proposes placing Ya Fei in charge of the Vientiane Auction House. Preparations are completed during Xiao Yan’s seclusion, and the auction is scheduled for a month after his return. 349 350
• Spirit-Severing Water collection — Arranges onward travel for two magical beasts brought to Tian Shu City and is privately entrusted with collecting the soul-strengthening lake water discovered by Xiao Yan. 359
• Renewed bloodline sublimation — Undergoes another sudden cultivation surge when Xiao Yan advances his physique to Dou Saint. He conceals its cause from Yao Ye, sends Xiao Li to investigate its wider effects, and meets Xiao Yan to discuss the phenomenon. His relationship with Yao Ye also becomes more personal when he permits her to address him as “Big Brother Xiao Ding.” 376 377
• Medicinal garden development — Receives Xiao Yan’s account of transporting an ancient forest from a ruin and establishing it inside a newly created small world as the alliance’s medicinal garden. After recovering from his initial astonishment, he asks for the details of the small world and its condition. 386