Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Xuan Zi (玄子) |
| Alias(es) | Elder Xuan; Taotie Douluo 115 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Shrek Academy; Sea God Pavilion 8 81 165 |
| Occupation/Role | Rank 98 Super Douluo; Inner Court elder, team supervisor, protector of Shrek students, and acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion 9 90 103 165 |
| Status | Active 193 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 8 8 |
Background / History
Xuan Zi led twelve core Inner Court disciples on a soul-hunting expedition into the Star Dou Great Forest. Their encounter with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast killed eight disciples; Zhang Lexuan survived only by forcibly absorbing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and suffering severe backlash. Overcome by guilt, Xuan Zi attempted to resign from Shrek. 8
Zhang Lexuan, still badly injured, knelt and begged him to remain for the academy’s sake. Xuan Zi accepted, declaring that he would use his “broken body” to atone for his failures. However, after losing his temper at Long Yaochen and releasing the pressure of a Rank 98 Super Douluo, Mu En stripped him of his duties and confined him to seclusion. 9
After emerging from seclusion, Xuan Zi confronted Long Xiaoyao at the Sea God Pavilion and accused Mu En of defecting, reflecting his enduring hostility toward Long Xiaoyao and the Holy Spirit Cult. Mu En later lifted his confinement, after which Xuan Zi expressed concern for Zhang Lexuan’s injuries and the Sea God Pavilion’s future. 47 48
He later oversaw selection and training for Shrek’s tournament team. He initially required Long Yaochen to defeat an official team member before training with them, then recognized his Sea God Pavilion-approved place on the main roster after Dai Yueheng’s defeat. Xuan Zi subsequently led ten days of joint main-team and reserve-team combat training to improve their coordination and adaptability. 81 82 89
During the team’s journey to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, Xuan Zi explained that Inner Court disciples carry dangerous responsibilities and are not guaranteed to survive until graduation. In a later Holy Spirit Cult incident, he restrained explosive hostages with his Soul Power while Long Yaochen neutralized the curse binding their life auras. 90 95
A second disastrous operation left Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, and Xi Xi severely injured. Mu En rebuked Xuan Zi for repeatedly failing to safeguard Shrek’s students and questioned whether he intended to resign again. During his report, however, Xuan Zi acknowledged Long Yaochen’s decisive leadership in preserving the remaining hostages and keeping the wounded alive. 96 97
At the tournament, Xuan Zi warned Long Yaochen that his holy martial soul had made him a target for evil soul masters. He ordered him not to go anywhere alone and offered himself and Wang Yan as points of contact. 102 103
After exposing Cheng Gang’s attempt to murder Long Yaochen and seize his soul bone, Xuan Zi captured and suppressed the Titled Douluo. He subsequently ambushed Elder Ma, seized the Sealing God Platform intended for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and helped Long Yaochen press the Star Luo Empire for accountability. 111 114 115 120
Xuan Zi guarded Long Yaochen while he began constructing the Soul Spirit prototype for the Snow Empress, sealing the surrounding area despite complaining that he had been reduced to serving as a junior’s bodyguard. 123 124
During the Holy Spirit Cult’s assault on Shrek City, Xuan Zi returned to reinforce the academy. His Taotie aura broke into the enemy’s combined pressure and helped Shrek’s Titled Douluo suppress the invading evil soul masters. 161
Before Mu En’s departure, Mu En appointed Xuan Zi acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion. Long Yaochen was designated the first successor, to take over once he possessed the combat strength of a Titled Douluo. Zhang Lexuan was designated the next successor after Long Yaochen if he failed to assume the position. 165
After Mu En’s departure, Xuan Zi spent much of his time eating and drinking while claiming to be cultivating toward Limit Douluo. Long Yaochen nevertheless enlisted him to escort Ma Xiaotao to the Star Dou Great Forest for a suitable seventh soul ring. Though initially alarmed at the prospect of confronting Di Tian, Xuan Zi honored his promise to Mu En and entered the forest to seek the Beast God. He returned injured after being attacked by the Bear Lord, but successfully caused enough disturbance to draw Di Tian out. 192 193 194
Xuan Zi later acted as a sparring partner for Ma Xiaotao after her breakthrough to Soul Sage. He suppressed his cultivation to test her newly obtained powers and was defeated in part by the piercing effect of her Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone skill, which singed half of his beard and sent him flying. 198 199
After Long Yaochen and Zhang Lexuan negotiated with Di Tian and brought the Bear Lord to Shrek, Xuan Zi initially reacted with anger to the Ferocious Beast’s presence in the Sea God Pavilion. Long Yaochen persuaded him that granting the Bear Lord a temporary position would bind Star Dou’s interests to Shrek and provide lasting protection after Xuan Zi’s eventual decline or death. Xuan Zi accepted the arrangement and agreed to help persuade the other elders. 223
Long Yaochen then volunteered Xuan Zi as the Bear Lord’s sparring partner. Xuan Zi reluctantly accepted, provoking the Bear Lord into a fight before Du Busi’s arrival interrupted the match. When Du Busi challenged Shrek and mocked Mu En’s death, Xuan Zi exchanged blows with him and admitted that he was inferior in a direct confrontation. He nevertheless helped draw Du Busi into the Bear Lord’s attack. 223 224
During the ensuing battle, Xuan Zi and the Bear Lord pressured Du Busi while Long Yaochen used his newly unified power to sever Du Busi’s left arm from a distance. Xuan Zi took satisfaction in Du Busi’s humiliation but restrained himself from pursuing a killing blow, recognizing that Long Yaochen’s attack had not been intended to kill. He later identified the severed arm as containing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone and suggested that Long Yaochen consider using it. 227 229
When Long Yaochen returned to the Sea God Pavilion with the injured Bear Lord and Bi Ji, Xuan Zi enthusiastically proposed immediately transferring the position of Master of the Sea God Pavilion to Long Yaochen. Zhang Lexuan reminded him that Mu En had required Long Yaochen to possess Titled Douluo-level combat strength first. Xuan Zi therefore agreed to continue serving as acting master for the time being. 240
Appearance
Xuan Zi is an elderly man whose usual casualness is reflected in his wine, chicken legs, and often untidy presentation. When intercepting Elder Ma, he appeared in grease-stained sleeves and carried wine; after a later mission, he returned to Sea God Island in bloodstained robes. 90 96 115
- Frequently carries a wine gourd and eats chicken legs. 90 102
- Wears loose elder’s robes; they were visibly bloodstained after returning with injured students. 96
- Uses earthen-yellow Soul Power. 115
- His sleeves can be so oily that they shine, and he is capable of consuming a table piled high with food while claiming that eating constitutes cultivation. 192
- After entering the Star Dou Great Forest to seek Di Tian, he returned with torn clothing, messier hair, and bloody marks on his shoulders and arms from the Bear Lord’s attack. 193
- Half of his beard was singed off after testing Ma Xiaotao’s newly acquired power. He was subsequently mocked for resembling a “Hell Spirit Cat.” 198
Personality
Xuan Zi is quick-tempered and confrontational. When Long Yaochen insulted him, he immediately unleashed the pressure of a Rank 98 Super Douluo; he also nearly intervened personally against Huo Yuhao during the tournament. 9 106
Despite his rough manner, he is deeply affected by the students lost under his leadership. His attempted resignation, tears before Zhang Lexuan, and decision to remain at Shrek stem from guilt rather than indifference. 8 9
He is also shamelessly pragmatic when acting for Shrek’s interests. While robbing Elder Ma, he denied being the Taotie Douluo even after being recognized, stripped Elder Ma of every accessible Soul Tool, and only released him after deciding the remaining loot had sufficient value. 115
Although he habitually complains when asked to protect Long Yaochen, he follows through on such responsibilities. He guarded the Soul Spirit procedure without leaving his post and accepted the dangerous Star Dou Great Forest assignment after Long Yaochen invoked his promise to Mu En. 123 124 193
Xuan Zi is reluctant to shoulder Shrek’s leadership alone and often hides his lack of progress behind eating, drinking, and jokes about cultivation. Nevertheless, Mu En’s reprimands and Long Yaochen’s arguments can still awaken his sense of responsibility. He accepts the need to cooperate with Soul Beasts when doing so offers Shrek a stronger and more lasting defense. 97 192 223
His pride remains easily provoked. He readily accepted the Bear Lord’s challenge after being mocked, even though he knew the Ferocious Beast was dangerous. At the same time, he can recognize when he is outmatched, openly admitting that Du Busi was stronger in a direct confrontation. 223 224
Abilities & Skills
Rank 98 Super Douluo
Xuan Zi is a Rank 98 Super Douluo whose Soul Power can overwhelm lower-ranked opponents without requiring a visible martial soul activation. 9 115
- His pressure was completely neutralized only because Long Yaochen’s Sea of Spirit and divine martial soul reacted against it. 9
- He suppressed Cheng Gang, a Titled Douluo, before Cheng Gang could release his soul rings. 111
- He sealed Cheng Gang’s Soul Power and spiritual power with remote strikes. 111
- He immobilized Elder Ma, an eighth-grade Soul Engineer and Soul Douluo, so thoroughly that Elder Ma could not move a finger. 115
- His Taotie aura could force its way through the combined auras of Holy Spirit Cult Titled Douluo and reinforce Shrek’s defenders. 161
- He endured an encounter with the Bear Lord in the Star Dou Great Forest and returned alive despite sustaining visible injuries. 193
- He was capable of exchanging blows with Du Busi, but acknowledged that he was inferior to the Body Sect master in a direct confrontation. 223 224
Godly Taotie Bull
Xuan Zi’s martial soul can manifest the phantom of a Godly Taotie Bull.
- He used the phantom while suppressing his cultivation to test Ma Xiaotao after her advancement to Soul Sage. 198
- The phantom overwhelmed Ma Xiaotao in their initial exchange, although she subsequently demonstrated an attack capable of piercing Xuan Zi’s Soul Power barrier. 198 199
Suppression and Containment
His Soul Power excels at suppression, blocking movement and restraining dangerous targets.
- He maintained a Soul Power blockade around Holy Spirit Cult hostages to prevent their explosive curses from activating. 95
- He acknowledged that brute-force removal of the hostages’ curse risked killing them, leaving Long Yaochen’s more precise holy power to sever the curse safely. 95
- His suppression can force an opponent’s soul rings to tremble and nearly retract into their body. 115
- He can establish an invisible area of isolation with a wisp of Soul Power, cutting off external sound and preventing disturbances while Long Yaochen conducts sensitive work. 123
- His defensive Soul Power barrier was pierced by Ma Xiaotao’s Burning Heaven Lion King Destruction, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone skill that compressed her Soul Power, physical strength, and Ultimate Fire into a highly penetrating attack. 199
Combat and Tactical Judgment
Xuan Zi is a highly experienced combatant despite his careless lifestyle.
- He ambushed and outmaneuvered Elder Ma, recognizing that the Sealing God Platform had been concealed in a disguised miniature storage Soul Tool and returning to seize it after initially allowing Elder Ma to leave. 115
- He fought alongside the Bear Lord against Du Busi and used the conflict to help create an opening for Long Yaochen’s distant attack. 224 227
- After Long Yaochen severed Du Busi’s arm, Xuan Zi chose not to pursue a killing blow, judging from the attack that Long Yaochen had intended to cripple rather than execute him. 227
- He identified the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone embedded in Du Busi’s severed arm and recognized its value even though Long Yaochen ultimately declined to absorb it immediately. 229
- A later battle with the Bear Lord gave him additional combat insights, which he continued digesting during the quieter period afterward. 222
Team Leadership
Xuan Zi supervises Shrek’s Inner Court and tournament teams in the field.
- He oversees official-team selection and sets combat standards for prospective members. 81 82
- He trained Shrek’s main and reserve teams through changing combat formations and battle scenarios. 89
- He personally leads the team’s departure for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament. 90
- He warns and protects exceptional students whose talents draw hostile attention. 102 103
- He serves as acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion following Mu En’s appointment. 165
- He personally escorted Long Yaochen and Ma Xiaotao to the Star Dou Great Forest in search of Ma Xiaotao’s seventh soul ring. 192 193
- He supports the proposed alliance between Shrek and the Star Dou Great Forest by accepting the Bear Lord’s temporary Sea God Pavilion position and helping persuade the other elders. 223
Power Progression
| Chapter | Cultivation / Development | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8–9 | Rank 98 Super Douluo | Xuan Zi was already a Rank 98 Super Douluo at the time of the Star Dou Great Forest tragedy and his subsequent confrontation with Long Yaochen. 8 9 |
| 165 | Acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion | Mu En appointed Xuan Zi acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion, entrusting him with the academy’s leadership until Long Yaochen could assume the position. 165 |
| 198 | Godly Taotie Bull combat test | Xuan Zi suppressed his cultivation and used the Godly Taotie Bull phantom to test Ma Xiaotao after her breakthrough to Soul Sage. 198 |
| 199 | Barrier pierced by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone skill | Ma Xiaotao’s Burning Heaven Lion King Destruction pierced Xuan Zi’s Soul Power barrier and sent him flying, despite his Rank 98 cultivation. 199 |
| 222 | Additional combat insights | After fighting the Bear Lord, Xuan Zi continued digesting the insights gained from the battle, although he had not yet advanced to Limit Douluo. 222 223 |
| 223–224 | Strategic cooperation with Star Dou | Xuan Zi accepted the Bear Lord’s temporary position in the Sea God Pavilion and participated in the defense of Shrek against Du Busi. He acknowledged that Du Busi was superior to him in a direct confrontation. 223 224 |
| 240 | Continued acting leadership | Xuan Zi remained acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion after agreeing that Long Yaochen was not yet ready to inherit the position. 240 |
Relationships
- Mu En — Sea God Pavilion master who repeatedly held Xuan Zi accountable for the safety of Shrek’s disciples; their relationship was strained after multiple disastrous missions. Before his departure, Mu En appointed Xuan Zi acting Master of the Sea God Pavilion. Even after death, Mu En’s presence and instructions continue to influence Xuan Zi’s choices. 8 97 165 200
- Zhang Lexuan — Her plea and kneeling persuaded Xuan Zi not to resign after the Star Dou Great Forest tragedy. After his confinement was lifted, he also expressed concern for her recovery and described her as crucial to the Sea God Pavilion’s future. 9 48
- Long Yaochen — Initially clashed with him, but later became a key protector and adviser, warning him of threats, intervening against Cheng Gang, and safeguarding his Soul Spirit work. Long Yaochen can also compel Xuan Zi to act by invoking his responsibility to Mu En. Their relationship later becomes an argumentative but effective partnership: Long Yaochen frequently criticizes Xuan Zi’s negligence while relying on his strength and political authority. 9 103 111 123 193 223
- Long Xiaoyao — An adversarial figure whom Xuan Zi confronted after leaving seclusion; Xuan Zi accused Mu En of defecting during their confrontation. Long Xiaoyao’s absence later left Xuan Zi as Long Yaochen’s only available high-level escort for the Star Dou expedition. 47 192
- Shrek’s tournament team — Elder, supervisor, and expedition leader responsible for the main and reserve members. 81 90
- Elder Ma — Xuan Zi ambushed and robbed him of his Soul Tools and the Sealing God Platform, while denying his identity as the Taotie Douluo. 115
- Cheng Gang — Captured and restrained after Cheng Gang attempted to murder Long Yaochen and steal his soul bone. 111 120
- Ma Xiaotao — Xuan Zi agreed to escort her and Long Yaochen into the Star Dou Great Forest to locate a suitable Hundred-Thousand-Year fire-attribute soul beast for her seventh soul ring. He later tested her after her breakthrough, losing part of his beard and being sent flying by her new Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone skill. 192 193 198 199
- Di Tian — Xuan Zi reluctantly entered the Star Dou Great Forest to seek him out on Long Yaochen’s behalf. After being attacked and injured, Xuan Zi’s efforts succeeded in drawing Di Tian out. Di Tian’s power and contempt made clear that Xuan Zi was not his equal. 193 194
- Bear Lord — Initially a hostile and insulting presence whom Xuan Zi nearly fought immediately. Long Yaochen persuaded Xuan Zi to support the Bear Lord’s temporary appointment to the Sea God Pavilion, after which the two became sparring partners and allies against Du Busi. Their relationship remains openly antagonistic and comedic. 222 223 224
- Du Busi — A hostile Super Douluo whom Xuan Zi confronted during Du Busi’s challenge to Shrek. Xuan Zi admitted that he was inferior to Du Busi in a direct fight, but helped lure him into the Bear Lord’s attack and later witnessed Long Yaochen sever his left arm. 223 224 227
- Bi Ji — A representative of the Star Dou faction who accompanied the injured Bear Lord and Long Yaochen to Shrek. Her presence forms part of the growing cooperation between the academy and the Soul Beasts, although Xuan Zi remains irritated by the disruption caused by the new arrivals. 229 240
- Ma Xiaotao — Xuan Zi agreed to escort her and Long Yaochen into the Star Dou Great Forest to locate a suitable Hundred-Thousand-Year fire-attribute soul beast for her seventh soul ring. 192 193
- Di Tian — Xuan Zi reluctantly entered the Star Dou Great Forest to seek him out on Long Yaochen’s behalf. After being attacked by the Bear Lord, Xuan Zi’s efforts succeeded in drawing Di Tian out. 193 194
Notable Quotes
“I will agree to your request. Let me use this broken body to atone for my own sins!” 9
“What Taotie Douluo? This old man doesn’t know him.” 115
“You brat really treat this old man like a personal bodyguard.” 123
Trivia
- Xuan Zi’s habitual drinking and eating are so pronounced that the tournament team initially wondered whether he was late because he was asleep; he was already waiting above Shrek’s east gate with a chicken leg. 90
- He rarely praises Long Yaochen, but explicitly called him a “good kid” after the hostage rescue. 95
- He claims that eating and drinking in restaurants is part of his cultivation toward becoming a Limit Douluo. 192
- Ma Xiaotao’s first test after reaching Soul Sage burned away half of Xuan Zi’s beard, prompting the Auspicious Beast to compare him to a Hell Spirit Cat. 198
- Xuan Zi was initially unwilling to fight the Bear Lord, but his pride overcame his caution once the Bear Lord mocked him. 223
- He was delighted to discover the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone in Du Busi’s severed arm, calling the result satisfying because of his longstanding hostility toward Du Busi. 229